MACON, GA. – Alyssa Ervin scored 17 of her game high 20 points in the second half to power Furman past Mercer, 60-49, in Southern Conference women's basketball play Thursday evening at Hawkins Arena.
 
The victory was the third straight and sixth triumph in the last seven games for Furman (12-8, 4-1 SoCon), which also notched its third consecutive win over Mercer (12-7, 2-2 SoCon).
 
Ervin, a sophomore guard from Galax, Va., who on Tuesday was named SoCon Player of the Week after pouring in 41 points in Paladin home triumphs over UNC Greensboro and Western Carolina, hit on 5-of-10 shots, including a 3-pointer, and knocked down 6-of-8 free throw chances in the second half.  The transfer from Elon in her first year in a Paladin uniform also contributed three of Furman's 12 steals and notched five rebounds in the contest.
 
Chantelle Stuart scored 14 points to join Ervin in double figures.
 
Clare Coyle claimed a career high 18 rebounds, working the defensive glass for 12 caroms while tallying six on the offensive end and contributing eight points.
 
Raina McGowens also notched a new career high with 11 rebounds.
 
The board work by Coyle and McGowens helped Furman post a 50-40 rebounding edge, which contributed to the Paladins' 30-20 advantage in points in the paint.
 
Furman only trailed once, in the game's first minute, and built a 14-point third quarter lead on the strength of a 15-6 run for a 42-28 advantage following an Ervin layp with 2:46 remaining in the period. Mercer, responded by closing the frame on a 9-0 run to trim the Paladins' edge to 42-37 heading to the fourth quarter.
 
Mercer's Stephanie Utomi's driving layup a minute into the final period pulled the Bears to within 44-42, but an 8-0 run by Furman, spiced by a 3-pointer and layup by freshman guard Sophia Pearl and finished off by a McGowens free throw at the 6:30 mark, checked Mercer's rally bid.
 
Utomi led the Bears with 14 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Both teams struggled with shooting as Furman connected on 33.9 percent from the field (21x62) while Mercer hit on just 17-of-60 attempts (28.3%). The Bears scored just four points in the second quarter on 1-of-20 shooting from the field but only trailed 24-18 at intermission.
 
Furman's road swing continues with a 5:00 p.m. tipoff at Samford.