GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Riding a three-game winning streak, Furman's women's basketball team is set to open Southern Conference play this Thursday when it travels to Cullowhee, N.C., to take on Western Carolina in a 7:00 p.m. clash at the Ramsey Center.

The game will be live streamed via ESPN+ and include SideArm live stats, with links to both available thru FurmanPaladins.com.

Fuman (10-6, 0-0 SoCon), a preseason fifth place pick in the league coaches' poll, claimed wins in its final three non-conference games, the latest being a 93-40 dismantling of Converse on Sunday behind a career high 22-point, 15-rebound performance by junior forward Kate Johnson.

In guiding the Paladins to within one victory of last year's total, first-year head coach Pierre Curtis fronts a squad that leads the SoCon in both scoring (72.8 ppg) and rebounding (+12.7 margin).

Five Paladins, paced by junior forward Jada Session (13.3 ppg), average in double figures to give Furman impressive balance, evidenced in the fact that all five rank in the league's Top 15 in scoring. She is followed by sophomore forward Sydney Ryan (11.9 ppg), Kate Johnson (11.6 ppg), redshirt sophomore guard Niveya Henley (11.1 ppg), and Tate Walters (10.6 ppg), a redshirt junior guard.

The caroms differential, which ranks 12th nationally, is paced by Session (8.9 rpg), the SoCon leader, and Johnson (7.4 rpg).  The Paladins five top rebounders are among the league's Top 25.

Furman's early season success has been fueled by several sources, most notably the solid improvement by Ryan and Johnson.  Ryan's 3-point shooting proficiency (.453, 34x75) has helped spike her scoring from 6.8 ppg as a freshman to her current 11.9 ppg. Johnson, meanwhile, has posted the biggest jump in production, upping last year's numbers (2.2 ppg, 1.7 rpg) to her current 11.6 ppg and 7.4 rpg.

The successful return of Walters and Henley from injuries that sidelined them for the entire 2022-23 campaign has also been pivotal.  Walters, an All-SoCon performer (12.9 ppg, 137 assists in 2021-22), can produce big numbers, as she did with18 points and a season high 10 assists against Converse.  Two years ago she poured in 22 points (5x8 3PFGs) in a 63-58 win over Western Carolina in Cullowhee.

Furman sports a 10-game series winning streak over WCU (5-10, 0-0 SoCon) and leads the all-time series, 52-35.

The Paladins' follow the game at Western Carolina with a 2:00 p.m. Saturday contest at UNC Greensboro.