SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Interstat) — In a Southern Conference women’s basketball clash defined by grinding defense and a dramatic final sequence, Alyssa Ervin’s driving layup with one second remaining lifted Furman to a 65-64 victory over Wofford on Friday night at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.

The Paladins, who trailed for nearly the entire second half, executed a tense final play to escape with the road win in front of a crowd of 852. The game was a stark contrast in styles, with Furman relying on interior scoring and Wofford finding success from beyond the arc, yet neither team led by more than six points at any stage.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the final 33 seconds. With Furman trailing 64-63, Wofford’s Gabby Mundy missed the second of two free throws. Furman secured the rebound and called a timeout with 29 seconds left. Out of the stoppage, Ervin drove hard to the basket and finished a layup to put the Paladins ahead 65-64 with just one second on the clock.

Wofford had one final chance, inbounding the ball under its own basket. A foul called on Furman’s Clare Coyle sent Wofford’s Mia Flor to the line for two shots with 0.1 seconds remaining. Flor missed the first free throw, and after a Wofford timeout, intentionally missed the second. The rebound was tapped out of bounds as time expired, securing the narrow victory for Furman.

The contest was a back-and-forth affair from the opening tip. The first quarter ended tied at 14, and Wofford used an 8-2 run late in the second period to take a 33-27 lead into halftime. The Terriers maintained a slim advantage throughout the third quarter, leading 50-48 heading into the final frame, largely behind their three-point shooting and the play of Mundy and Queen Ikhiuwu.

Furman’s offense, which struggled for consistency for long stretches, was carried by its two stars. Ervin, a guard from Galax, Virginia, scored a game-high 21 points, including the decisive basket. Forward Clare Coyle of Jacksonville, Florida, was a force inside, adding 17 points, two assists and two blocks while anchoring the Paladin defense.

Wofford was led by Mundy, who scored 19 points and dished out two assists. Ikhiuwu, from Madrid, Spain, provided a strong interior presence with 14 points and two blocks, while Molly Masingale contributed 13 points and two blocks in a full 40 minutes of action.

Statistically, the game was a defensive struggle. Both teams shot under 40% from the field, with Furman converting 25 of 61 attempts and Wofford making 22 of 59. The key differential came from the three-point line, where Wofford hit 8 of 19 compared to Furman’s 4 of 12, and at the free throw line, where Furman’s 11-of-14 performance narrowly edged Wofford’s 12-of-16 effort.

The teams combined for only six assists, highlighting the physical, isolation-heavy nature of the contest. Furman committed 12 turnovers to Wofford’s 10, and each team grabbed 10 offensive rebounds.

With the win, Furman improves to 14-8 overall. Wofford falls to 11-10. According to Interstat’s ELO system, Wofford had been projected with a 69.6% probability to win the game.

The Paladins will look to build on the momentum when they travel to face Chattanooga on Feb. 5. Wofford aims to regroup at home against East Tennessee State on the same date. The two teams are scheduled to meet again in Greenville, South Carolina, on Feb. 28.