GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Furman's women's basketball team will make the short trip to Spartanburg on Saturday for a key, 2:00 p.m. ESPN+ Southern Conference showdown with Wofford at Richardson Indoor Stadium.

The Paladins (14-9, 7-2 SoCon) and Terriers (12-10, 7-1 SoCon) enter Saturday's contest as two of the league's hottest teams — Furman riding a five-game winning streak and Wofford, winners of four straight.

The Terriers are currently second in the SoCon standings, a game behind frontrunner Mercer, while the Paladins are third, a half game behind Wofford.  Furman claimed the only league victory registered against Mercer this year with a 69-66 triumph in Macon, Ga., on Jan. 20.

Wofford won the season's first clash with Furman, 74-69, in Greenville on Jan. 13.  That win was the first for the Terriers in Greenville, halting a streak of 29 consecutive losses.  Furman holds a commanding 47-12 lead in the series and is 17-10 all-time versus Wofford in Spartanburg.   The Terriers, however, have defended their home court in better fashion in recent years, claiming the last four encounters with the Paladins, including last year's 61-54 verdict.

Both the Terriers and Paladin were without two of their principal performers in the season's first clash as Wofford's Jackie Carmen (12.2 ppg) and Furman's Tate Walters (13.7 ppg, league leading 77 assists) were sidelined.

Wofford's Niyah Lutz filled the breech with a game high 25-point performance, keying the Terriers to a solid shooting effort (45.2 percent) that included 9-of-23 work from 3-point range.  Wofford enters Saturdays fracas as the league's top scoring team (67.2 ppg).

Furman got 24 points and 12 rebounds from Tierra Hodges in the season's first meeting. Hodges, a senior forward, has been strong for the Paladins all season and heads into Saturday's action ranked first in the SoCon in rebounding (11.6 rpg) and second in both scoring (17.5 ppg) and free throw percentage (.827).  The Covington, Ga., native, who earlier this year became Furman's all-time leading rebounder (now 1,168), is poised to climb from her current eighth-place standing on the Paladins' career scoring chart (1,507), trailing seventh place Holli Wilkins (1,520 points, 2013-16).

Due in large measure to Hodges, who ranks 11th in the NCAA in rebounding,  Furman tops the SoCon on the boards with a +7.4 margin.  Hodges owns a league leading 15 double-doubles this year and 49 in her career.

Head coach Jackie Carson hopes the recent upswing in play by Walters will carryover to Saturday.  The Paladin sophomore guard was the main catalyst in the Paladins' recent two-game road sweep over Western Carolina and UNC Greensboro, combining to register 41 points (9x18 3PFGs), 12 rebounds, nine assists, and three steals in the two victories.  She added 15 points and six dishes in Monday's 64-52 home win over the Spartans.

To overtake Wofford for second place on Saturday the Paladins will likely also need solid outings from senior forward Grace van Rij (9.0 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Sydney James (8.7 ppg, 4.8 rpg).  James registered 14 points and seven rebounds in the first outing versus Wofford and has demonstrated ability to be a big factor, evidenced by her 21-point performance in the Paladins' triumph over Mercer.