GREENSBORO, N.C. – Clare Coyle scored 25 points, and Alyssa Ervin drained a late 3-pointer to break a tie game to lift Furman past UNC Greensboro, 63-61, in Southern Conference women's basketball play Saturday afternoon at Bodford Arena.
 
With the victory, its fifth consecutive road triumph, Furman (16-10, 8-3 SoCon) completes the regular season sweep of UNCG (13-13, 3-8 SoCon) and remains in a second place tie with Wofford in the league standings.  The Paladins return home to close the regular season with three straight contests at Timmons Arena beginning next Thursday against Samford.
 
Furman, which fell behind 13-0 at the start of the game and trailed 31-24 at halftime, notched its fifth second half comeback win in league play this season and second against the Spartans, who led the Paladins 35-25 at intermission in Greenville on Jan. 15 before the Furman stormed back for a 69-56 triumph.
 
Coyle's 25 points marked a new career high for the sophomore forward against NCAA Division I opponents and came on 12-of-20 shooting.  She also added nine rebounds and three blocks, including one of each on a UNCG's next to last possession when, with Furman holding a 62-61 lead, the Spartans' Mikiah Asidanya drove down the left edge of the lane and put up a shot, which Coyle deflected and gathered for the rebound with 14 seconds remaining.
 
Alyssa Ervin was fouled and drained the second of three free throw attempts to put Furman up, 63-61, with 12 seconds on the clock.  The Spartans' Mia Simpson's game tying shot attempt from the 17-feet missed as time expired.
 
Ervin put Furman ahead for good when she broke free to the wing off an inbounds play and received the pass from Chantelle Stuart for a 3-pointer to break a 59-59 deadlock with 1:36 remaining.
 
The Paladins paved their way to the victory by getting off the deck from a 38-28 deficit three and half minutes into the second half.  A 21-6 run, fueled by three consecutive 3-pointers, including a pair of freshman guard Sophia Pearl and the other by Ervin, highlighted the burst, which the Paladins capped with a quarter ending 9-0 spurt that sent Furman to the final period with a 49-44 lead.
 
Raina McGowens joined Coyle in double figures, tallying 12 points to along with eight rebounds, two assists, and two steals.  The sophomore guard converted all six of her free throw attempts, including four in the decisive fourth quarter.
 
Furman shot just 32.8 percent (9x28) over the game's first 20 minutes but found the mark in the second half, connecting on 15-of-30 (.500) field goal attempts, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range.
 
Led by Asidanya's 17 points, UNCG finished shooting .371 percent (23x62) from the field.
 
The two teams battled to a virtual draw on the boards, and both committed 12 turnovers.
 
Coyle's 25 points topped her previous high versus Division I foes — 22 vs. Georgia State in a 90-89 win over the Panthers on Nov. 13 in Greenville.