GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman's women's basketball team returns to action on Wednesday when it hits the road for a clash at UNC Asheville.  Tipoff for the ESPN+ streamed contest at UNCA's Kimmel Arena is set for 7:00 p.m.

Furman (5-4) is coming off a 102-30 pasting of Brevard on Sunday, the 72-point triumph marking the greatest margin of victory in program history and 102-point output matching the highest tally by the Paladins in head coach Jackie Carson's tenure, which now spans 13 seasons.

Speaking of Carson, the Paladin mentor is one win away from 200 head coaching victories.

UNC Asheville (4-2) last saw action on Nov. 30 with an 89-40 thrashing of Warren Wilson.  The Bulldogs and Paladins have faced one common foe this year in Florida, which beat UNCA, 86-40 (Nov. 13), and downed Furman, 77-50 (Nov. 21).

Furman holds a 19-14 lead in its series with UNC Asheville and has won five meetings, including a 64-49 triumph last season in Greenville.

The first third of Furman's 2022-23 campaign has seen the Paladins attempting to find answers in replacing graduated consensus SoCon Player of the Year Tierra Hodges and filling voids created by season ending injuries to heralded All-SoCon point guard Tate Walters and SoCon All-Freshman forward Niveya Henley.

Stepping in for Walters at point guard has been sophomore Janay Outten (4.0 ppg), who has earned starts in the last five games and posted a solid 40-17 assist/turnover differential.

Redshirt freshman guard Jaelyn Acker (15.1 ppg) has taken on much of the perimeter shooting load this year, leading the team in scoring, 3-point shooting (38.5%), and work at the free throw line (96.4%), where she has converted 27 straight following a miss on her first attempt of the season.

Next to Acker, sophomore forward Jada Session (9.0 ppg, 7.9 rpg) has emerged as Furman's most impactful performer to date, having fashioned double-doubles in three of the Paladins' last four games.

Junior small forward Sydney James (6.8 ppg, 6.4 rpg) continues to loom as a wild card for the Paladins, who are a noticeably better team when the talented junior and 2021 league freshman of the year is dialed in.  Slowed in the early going due to injury, she posted an impressive double-double (17 pts., 14 rebs.) in a 71-58 win over Charleston Southern and had 13 points and six rebounds versus Georgia.

The early summer decision by All-SoCon forward Grace van Rij (12.0 ppg, 6.8 rpg) to return for her graduate year has paid dividends, as the Knoxville, Tenn., product has given the Paladins a solid offensive and rebounding presence in the paint.

Freshman guard/forward Sydney Ryan (9.9 ppg, 7.0 rpg) gained notice early on when she captured league player of the week honors following a 25-point, nine-rebound performance in the Paladins' season opening win over Erskine.