GREENVILLE, S.C. -- Alyssa Ervin scored 15 points and Furman used a powerful late third quarter run to take command en route to a 74-67 victory over UNC Asheville in women's basketball play Saturday afternoon at Timmons Arena.

Ervin scored 10 of her 15 points in the second half and combined with Clare Coyle, who tallied all of her 14 points in the game's final 20 minutes, to fuel an 18-3 outburst over the final 3:21 of third quarter that helped Furman erase a one-point deficit and take a 61-47 lead after three periods.

Kristen McMillan's 3-pointer with 3:35 to go gave the Bulldogs (2-5) a 44-43 third quarter lead — their first since the first quarter — before Coyle answered on the ensuing possession with a layup to put the Paladins (3-5) back on top and spark a 9-0 spurt.  Ervin contributed to the run with a 3-point play, and Coyle finished it with another layup, part of her 10-point effort in the frame, to give Furman a 52-44 advantage.

Furman led 72-57 with four minutes remaining, and it proved to be enough to hold off a late charge by UNCA that included a pair of 3-pointers by Aileen Marquez, whose 6-for-9 shooting from beyond the arc carried her to a game high 20-point performance.

Ervin's 15 points led a parade of four Paladin double figure scorers that included 14 points apiece by Coyle and freshman point guard Sophia Pearl, who also contributed six steals and five assists in 32 minutes of action in her first career start. Raina McGowens scored 11 points for Furman.

The Paladins led 24-12 after one quarter, but UNCA cut it 36-32 by halftime.  The Bulldogs kept it close until McMillan's third quarter trey put UNCA ahead, 44-43.  The edge lasted only 14 seconds before Coyle's layup gave Furman the lead for good.

Both teams shot 40.0 percent from the field.  

The Bulldogs, who entered the game shooting just 30.0 percent from 3-point range, converted 10-of-21 shots from distance to outscore the Paladins by 15 points from beyond the arc.  Furman, however, made UNCA pay dearly for its 24 turnovers, outscoring the Bulldogs 28-16 off the miscues and 36-18 in the paint.

Kyrha Parnell finished with nine points and a game high nine rebounds, and Coyle had eight caroms.

Furman plays host to Presbyterian on Wednesday.