GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman's women's basketball squad is set to tip off its Southern Conference schedule on Saturday when it welcomes Western Carolina to Bon Secours Wellness Arena in downtown Greenville, part of Furman's "Weekends At The Well" series this season.

Tipoff for the ESPN+ event is set for 1:00 p.m., which will be followed by Furman's men's game's versus Mercer at 4:00 p.m.

Saturday's contest will mark Furman's first appearance on the court since Dec. 29 when the Paladins knocked off South Carolina State, 47-32, in Orangeburg.  Head coach Jackie Carson's team has had two games within the last week canceled due to COVID, including Thursday's home contest versus UNC Greensboro, now rescheduled for Feb. 7 at Timmons Arena.

Furman (7-7, 0-0 SoCon), a preseason No. 4 pick in a poll of league coaches, is led by fifth-year senior forward Tierra Hodges, a two-time All-SoCon selection who on Monday collected her second league player of the month citation of the season.

The Covington, Ga., native, who leads the SoCon in rebounding (11.5 rpg) and ranks second in both scoring (15.8 ppg) and free throw percentage (.868), has fashioned eight double-doubles (points-rebounds) in her 13 games this season.  In the Paladins' most recent outing versus South Carolina State, she claimed 14 caroms and, in the process, moved into second place on Furman's career rebounding ledger (1,062), surpassing her coach, Jackie (Smith) Carson (1,057, 1997-00).  Hodges heads into the Western Carolina game ranked 13th on the Paladins' all-time scoring chart with 1,328 points, one point shy of 12th place, currently occupied by Nancy Glass (1,329, 1987-90).

Furman's other double figure scorer is sophomore guard Tate Walters (13.0 ppg), who paces the Paladins in assists (42) and steals (21) while also contributing 5.0 rebounds per outing.

The Paladins have had their way with Western Carolina of late, winning the last eight encounters and 11 of the last 12.  Furman leads the all-time series 48-35 and is 29-11 versus the Catamounts in Greenville.

Western Carolina (6-9, 0-1 SoCon) opened SoCon play on Thursday at Wofford, falling 72-48 to the Terriers.

With the increase in COVID transmission and infections due to the omicron variant, Furman strongly encourages masks for those attending Weekend at the Well games in the Bon Secours Wellness Arena.