ATHENS, GA. -- Brittany Smith scored 20 points and Georgia used a late third quarter surge to pull away from Furman on the way to a 78-58 win in women's basketball action Thursday evening at Stegeman Coliseum.

Smith connected on 9-of-14 shots, in addition to a pair of free throws, for her 20 points, which she combined with a game high eight rebounds, three steals, and a pair of blocks in 26 minutes of action for the Bulldogs (8-1).

Furman got a game high 22 points from freshman guard Jaelyn Acker, who canned 7-of-17 shots, including 6-of-12 3-pointers, and both free throw chances to pace the Paladins (4-4).

Georgia used strong defense to stifle Furman in the first quarter on the way to a 19-6 lead, and the Bulldogs took a 45-29 lead into intermission despite a 16-point first half by Acker, who drained 4-of-8 treys in the period.

The Paladins and Bulldogs traded baskets in the first minute of the second half before Furman put together a 13-2 run on the strength of two Acker 3-pointers and a pair of baskets by Sydney James to pull within 49-44 following an Acker trey with 6:21 remaining in the period.

The Bulldogs answered with a 14-0 streak, ignited by Smith's back-to-back offensive rebounds and baskets, to take command and a 63-44 advantage following an Alisha Lewis 3-pointer with 1:56 to go in tte quarter.

Diamond Battles followed Smtih in the scoring column with 15 points, and Zoesha Smith tallied 13 for the Bulldogs, who got 12 points from Audrey Warren.

Sydney James finished with 13 points for Furman, and Grace van Rij tallied 12 for the Paladins.

Furman suffered 21 turnovers in the face of strong half court half and three quarter court pressure from Georgia for most of the contest.

The Bulldogs shot 45.9 percent from the field (34x74) and posted 41-37 rebounding edge.

Furman finished the game hitting on 19-of-58 shots (32.8%), but were 9-of-23 from 3-point range (39.1%).

The Paladins play host to Brevard on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.