CULLOWHEE, N.C. -- Jaelyn Acker scored 12 points to lead a balanced scoring effort, and Furman used strong defensive work to beat Western Carolina, 60-46, in Southern Conference women's basketball action Saturday afternoon at the Ramsey Center.

The victory was the 11th straight by Furman (9-9, 1-2 SoCon) against Western Carolina (8-11, 1-3 SoCon) and fifth consecutive win over the Catamounts in Cullowhee.

Acker was one of four Paladins to tally double figure points, as she was joined by Grace van Rij and Sydney James with 11 points piece, and Jada Session with 10.

The Paladins took control of the contest in the second quarter by limiting Western Carolina to just two points on 1-of-12 shooting from the field.  

Furman led 31-15 at intermission and was never seriously threatened over the game's final 20 minutes.  The Catamounts could only get as close as 10 points at 50-40 midway through the fourth quarter, but a James 3-pointer with 4:34 quickly dashed any comeback by WCU.

The Catamounts finished the game shooting just 18-of-54 from the field (34.4%).  Furman, meanwhile, enjoyed its best shooting performance of the season by connecting on 21-of-44 shots (47.7%), topped only by a 52.8% effort (38x72) in a 102-30 blowout of Brevard in early December.

Furman's double-figure scoring tandem of Acker, James, van Rij, and Session combined to connect on 17-of-31 shots in the contest.

The Paladins also posted a 35-29 rebounding advantage with van Rij topping the Paladins with seven caroms.

Kyla Allison topped Western Carolina with 10 points, and Joi Reid finished with 10 points and a game high 11 rebounds.

Furman returns home following the three-game SoCon road stretch to open league play at home next Thursday, facing ETSU in a 7:00 p.m. contest.