GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Tierra Hodges scored 19 points, claimed 11 rebounds, and in the process joined Furman's 1,000-point scoring club in leading the Paladins to a 68-56 Southern Conference victory over East Tennessee State on Friday evening at Timmons Arena.

Hodges, a redshirt senior small forward from Covington, Ga., became the 26th player in Furman history to reach the 1,000-point plateau with a second quarter basket and went on to make 6-of-13 shots and all six of her free throw attempts in the contest, notching her ninth double-double of the season with her 11 caroms.

The victory, the fourth straight by Furman (6-11, 2-6 SoCon) over ETSU (3-10, 1-5 SoCon), halted a four-game losing streak by Paladins, who came into the game having played the league's toughest schedule, with all seven contests, including five on the road, coming against the top four teams in the standings.

Playing only its third Division I home game of the campaign, the injury plagued Paladins, who were without the services of freshman guard Tate Walters, got a boost from sophomore point guard Maddie Griffon, who came off the bench to deliver nine points, nine assists, and four steals in 29 minutes of action.

Freshman Sydney James also chipped in nine points and four steals for Furman, which shot 37.5 percent from the field (24-of-64).

The Paladins led 16-10 after the first quarter and were up 35-22 late in the second period when ETSU's Jasmine Sanders' bottomed out a 3-point heave from beyond mid-court as time expired to pull the Bucs to within 35-25 at intermission.

Furman took control in the third quarter, using a 16-3 run over a five-minute span to stretch a 40-32 lead into a 56-35 advantage following a pair of Hodges free throws with 2:13 to go.

The Bucs, who got a game high 25 points and 14 rebounds from Jakhyia Davis, could never get within single digits the rest of the way.

The two teams play the second game of the weekend series on Sunday in a 2:00 p.m. contest that will mark Furman's annual "Play4Kay" contest and sponsored by Pepsi.  Fans are encouraged to wear pink in support of breast cancer awareness.  In addition a pink t-shirt giveaway is planned during the game as well as a virtual t-shirt toss on @FurmanWBB.