ASHEVILLE, N.C.. -- Furman's women's basketball team is set to make its second Southern Conference Tournament championship game appearance in the last four seasons when it takes on Mercer in Sunday's noon final at Harrah's Cherokee Center.

The game will be live streamed via ESPN+ and televised over the Nexstar Network.  Live stats will also be available through FurmanPaladins.com.

For will call ticket information at Harrah's Cherokee Center and game day send-off details from Furman's team hotel, please see the bottom of this release.

Furman (19-11, 10-4 SoCon), the No. 3 seed and coming off Friday's 64-59 win over No. 2 seed Wofford, was the only league team to beat regular season champion and No. 1 seed Mercer (22-6, 13-1 SoCon) this year when it handed the Bears a 69-66 loss in Macon, Ga., on Jan. 20. 

Sunday's winner will collect the SoCon's automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.

This year marks Furman's ninth championship game appearance.  The Paladins, who fell to Mercer 66-63 in 2019's title game, claimed championships in 1995 and 2000 — the 2000 title, a 68-49 win over UNC Greensboro, coming in Greenville with Paladin head coach Jackie (Smith) Carson in uniform.

Winners of four straight and 13 of their last 17 games, Furman has climbed the mountain this season on the strength of SoCon Player of the Year, fifth-year senior forward Tierra Hodges, who leads the league in scoring (18.1 ppg), rebounding (12.1 rpg), and free throw percentage (.832).

Hodges, who ranks fifth nationally in rebounding and is the owner of a SoCon leading 20 double-doubles (points-rebounds) this year and 52 in her career, delivered a 20-point, career high 20-rebound performance in the Paladins' 70-63 quarterfinal overtime win over Chattanooga on Thursday.  The Covington, Ga., product came back on Friday to tally 20 points and claim 12 rebounds in the Paladins' triumph over Wofford.

Joining Hodges in fueling Furman in its two tournament victories have been a pair of sophomores, guard Tate Walters and wing Sydney James.

Walters poured in a career high 26 points, including five 3-pointers, in the win over Chattanooga, and James registered 15 points and eight rebounds against Wofford.

Walters, a consensus second team All-SoCon selection this year, is averaging 13.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game.  The Buford, Ga., native leads the SoCon with 117 assists and tops Furman in 3-point shooting (.381).

A second team All-SoCon pick, senior forward Grace van Rij (10.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg) registered a career high 26 points in Furman's 71-64 loss to Mercer in Greenville on Feb. 19.  The Knoxville, Tenn., product  ranks second in the league in field goal percentage (.507).

Mercer hardly had to break a sweat in its first two tournament games, rolling past No. 8 seed Western Carolina, 85-46, in the quarterfinals and No. 4 seed Samford, 65-35, in a semifinal matchup.  The Bears sport an 11-game winning streak, their last loss coming at the hands of Furman.

Mercer placed three players on the All-SoCon squad, including Amoria Neal-Tysor, Shannon Titus, and  
Jaron Dougherty.  In addition, Mercer's Erin Houpt collected league freshman of the year honors, Titus defensive player of the year accolades, and Susie Gardner coach of the year laurels.

Sunday, March 6             
Women's Team Hotel Send Off Gathering
Location: DoubleTree Asheville Biltmore, 115 Hendersonville Road, Asheville, N.C.
Time: 9:30 AM
                
Tickets Available at Furman Will Call Table
Location: Harrah's Cherokee Center Arena, Asheville, N.C.
Time: 11:00 AM

Women's SoCon Basketball Tournament Championship 
Location: Harrah's Cherokee Center Arena, Asheville, N.C.
Time: 12:00 PM