GREENVILLE, S.C. – Furman's women's basketball team tips off its 2026-27 season on Monday when it takes on USF in a 5:00 p.m. clash at the Yuengling Center in Tampa, Fla.
The game, which will be the first meeting between the Paladins and Bulls, will be live streamed via ESPN+ and StatBroadcast live stats provided via the schedule link at FurmanPaladins.com. In addition, timely information updates and highlight clips will be shared through the team's "X" account @FurmanWBB.
The 2026-27 campaign marks the 52nd season of Paladin women's basketball and fourth under head coach
Pierre Curtis, who is entering his 14th year overall at Furman.
Curtis welcomes the return eight letterwinners and four starters off last year's squad that posted an 18-13 overall record and 9-5 Southern Conference mark, good for fourth place. The Paladins, who were the preseason No. 1 pick in the poll of SoCon head coaches, a position also claimed by the Furman men's squad, boast a pair of All-SoCon performers in 6-foot-1 junior forward
Clare Coyle and 5-foot-11 guard
Alyssa Ervin.
Coyle, a two-year starter and both a first team all-league selection and all-defensive team pick, proved to be the SoCon's most complete player last season, pacing the league in rebounding (9.1), field goal percentage (.547), and double-doubles (11), while ranking fourth in scoring (14.8), third in steals (2.0), and fourth in blocked shots (1.38). She was the only player in the conference to rank in the top four in all six categories. The Jacksonville, Fla., product was recently named to the 25-player Becky Hammon Mid-Major Player of the Year Watch List
Ervin, who joined Furman in the spring of 2025, fashioned an outstanding first season with the Paladins, ranking sixth in the league in scoring (13.8), seventh in free throw shooting (.728), eighth in steals (1.64), and ninth in 3-point field goal percentage (.351). The Galax, Va., native connected on game winning shots in three of the Paladins' record six SoCon road victories — vs. East Tennessee State, Wofford, and UNC Greensboro. She was a second team all-conference pick who captured first team SoCon All-Tournament laurels, primarily on the strength of a career high 27-point outburst in a 66-45 win over Mercer in first round action and combined 9x14 work from 3-point range in two tourney contests.
Other top returnees include 5-foot-10 junior guard
Raina McGowens (9.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg) and 5-foot-7 sophomore guard
Sophia Pearl (5.5 ppg, 69 ast.).
McGowens, a two-year starter, paced Furman in getting to the free throw line (102x154) a year ago.
Pearl averaged 31.1 minutes/game over the final six games.
A pair of junior transfers, 6-foot forward
Ciara Alexander (Campbell) and 5-foot-7 guard
Ava Sawi (Radford), are joined by three freshmen — 5-foot-10 guard
Nariah Nelson, 5-foot-8 guard
Keegan Morris, and 6-foot forward
Emma Briggs — in forming the contingent of five newcomers this year.
Alexander saw action in 66 games and averaged 7.7 points and 5.3 rebounds per game over two campaigns at Campbell. She earned CAA All-Rookie Team honors in 2025 and helped the Camels to a 20-12 campaign a year ago. Nelson was a three-time all-state pick as a prep and keyed Hebron (Ga.) Christian to a 30-1 record and 2A state championship her senior year. Briggs, meanwhile, helped pace Benet (Ill.) Academy to a combined 56-8 record her junior and senior years while twice collecting all-state laurels.
South Florida is coming off a 20-12 season a year ago. The Bulls were picked third in a poll of American Athletic Conference head coaches.
Furman will open its home season on Wednesday when it plays host to Erskine in a 5:00 p.m. contest.
