GREENSBORO, N.C. -- Tate Walters scored 19 points and Tierra Hodges delivered 16 points and 15 rebounds to power Furman past UNC Greensboro, 54-44, in Southern Conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at Fleming Gym.

The victory was the fourth straight for Furman (13-9, 6-2 SoCon), which solidified its hold on third place in the league standings, and fourth triumph in the Paladins' last five road games.

UNCG's 44 points were the fewest ever allowed by the Paladins to the Spartans in Greensboro and third lowest tally by UNCG in the 56-game series.

Walters, who registered a game high 22 points in Furman's 63-58 road victory over Western Carolina on Thursday, completed her personal two-game road show by connecting on 5-of-15 shots, including four 3-pointers, and 5-of-8 free throws for 19 points.  The Paladin sophomore guard also contributed five assists and four rebounds in 39 minutes of playing time.

Hodges, meanwhile, dialed up her SoCon leading 15th double-double of the season, making hay at the free throw line, where she drained 8-of-9 opportunities.  Her 16 points upped her career total to 1,497, cementing her hold on eighth place on Furman's career scoring ledger.

Furman trailed 7-2 early but took control with 16-0 run, fueled by a pair of Walters treys, to finish the first quarter with an 18-7 lead.

Ahead 23-18 with four minutes to go in the first half, Furman finished off the second period with 6-0 spurt on a basket from Niveya Henley, two Hodges free throws, and a layup by Grace van Rij off a Walters assist, to take a 29-18 lead at intermission.

The Paladins, who led by as many as 15 points twice in the third quarter, watched UNCG cut the margin to six points on three occasions in the fourth quarter, but a Greyson Boone 3-pointer from the right wing with 2:07 to go put Furman up, 50-41, and effectively squashed any hope of a Spartan comeback.

The game was not a shooter's clinic as Furman converted just 16-of-55 shots (29.1 percent), and UNCG, which found the lane full of Paladin defenders for much of the contest, connected on only 17-of-60 field goal attempts (28.3 percent).  The Paladins, however, earned a spread at the free throw line, making 15-of-19 chances while UNCG converted just 4-of-9.

Furman also registered an 18-7 differential in points off turnovers.

In a battle of the SoCon's top two rebounding teams, UNCG managed a 44-40 advantage.

The Spartans were paced by Isys Grady's 13 points.

Furman and UNCG will square off again on Monday in Greenville in the makeup of an early January contest postponed due to Covid in the Spartans' program.