TRAVELERS REST, S.C. (Interstat) — In a defensive struggle defined by offensive inefficiency, the Furman Paladins used a decisive third-quarter surge to pull away from the Wofford Terriers and secure a 64-42 victory in a Southern Conference women’s basketball game Saturday at Timmons Arena.

The game, a rematch of a one-point Furman victory just four weeks prior, never approached that level of drama. Both teams labored to find any offensive rhythm, but Furman’s ability to capitalize on Wofford’s mistakes and a standout performance from Clare Coyle proved the difference.

The first half was a grind, with the teams tied at 14 after a sloppy first quarter. Furman managed a narrow 29-26 lead at halftime, but the outcome remained in doubt due to the Paladins’ own shooting woes. The critical juncture arrived after the break. Furman emerged from the locker room with renewed defensive intensity, holding Wofford to just nine points in the third quarter while steadily expanding their lead.

The Paladins outscored the Terriers 18-9 in the period, turning a three-point edge into a commanding 12-point advantage. The run was fueled by defensive stops that led to easier transition opportunities and a more assertive approach from Coyle inside. Wofford, which shot a frigid 29 percent from the field for the game and a debilitating 37 percent from the free-throw line, had no answer. The Terriers’ offensive rating of 57.9 points per 100 possessions underscored a afternoon of profound struggle.

Furman’s Clare Coyle, a 6-foot-1 junior from Jacksonville, Florida, was the game’s dominant force. She played 38 minutes and led all scorers with 16 points, adding three assists and two blocks. Her presence in the paint altered numerous Wofford attempts and provided a reliable scoring option when Furman’s perimeter shots, of which they made only 3-of-15, were not falling.

The Paladins showcased a balanced attack behind Coyle. Raina McGowens of Pelzer, South Carolina, scored 13 points, as did backcourt mates Sophia Pearl from Woodstock, Georgia, and Alyssa Ervin of Galax, Virginia. Pearl also contributed four assists. Furman’s defense was omnipresent, tallying 12 steals and forcing 15 Wofford turnovers, which they converted into 19 points.

Wofford was led by Molly Masingale of Englewood, Tennessee, who scored 13 points. Point guard Gabby Mundy from Liberty Hill, Texas, added 10 points and four assists, but the Terriers’ offense consistently stalled. Their six total assists against 15 turnovers highlighted a disjointed performance, and their 4-for-21 shooting from three-point range failed to provide any needed spark.

The most important part of the game was Furman’s third-quarter defensive lockdown. With the contest still within a single possession at halftime, the Paladins elevated their pressure, directly causing a series of Wofford turnovers and rushed shots. This stretch, where Wofford managed only a handful of field goals over ten minutes, allowed Furman to build an insurmountable double-digit lead from which the Terriers, given their profound offensive difficulties, could never recover.

The victory improved Furman’s season record to 17-12 overall. Wofford fell to 16-12. An announced crowd of 493 watched the game, which saw Furman sweep the regular-season series between the two teams.