GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Nia Howard and Akira Wiggins scored 21 points apiece, and UNC Greensboro used a late surge to down Furman, 74-69, in Southern Conference women's basketball action Saturday at Timmons Arena.

With the the victory UNCG improves to 12-13 overall and 5-6 in SoCon play.  Furman falls to 10-15 overall and 2-8 in league action.

Grace van Rij paced the Paladins in scoring with 20 points.

After van Rij converted a layup with 7:15 remaining to pull Furman to within 57-55, the Spartans fashioned a 6-0 spurt by scoring on their next three possessions.  A Howard layup made it 59-55, and Jordan Releford followed with fast break layup following a Furman turnover to stretch the advantage to six points.  Wiggins finished off the decisive run with a jump shot to make it 63-55 with just under five minutes remaining.

Furman rallied from a 71-60 deficit to get within 73-69 on a pair of Sydney James free throws with 17 seconds left, but a Howard free throw closed out the contest.

Howard and Wiggins combined to make 15-of-27 shots from the field, and Wiggins cashed in 9-of-10 free throws for the Spartans.

Furman's 18 turnovers in the contest proved costly as UNCG registered a 25-7 scoring differential off the miscues.

Isys Grady added 15 points for the Spartans.

Jaelyn Acker followed van Rij with 15 points, and Sydney James chipped in 11 points. Paraskevi Koilia tallied a career high 10 points.

Furman made 7-of-17 3-point attempts (41.2%) and finished the contest shooting 44.7% from the field (21x47).

UNCG connected on 29-of-60 shots (48.3%).

Furman returns to action next Thursday with a 7:00 p.m. road contest at Chattanooga.