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Hot Start, Hard Fall
Furman opened Sunday night looking like the more energized team, shooting 56.3 percent in the first quarter and taking a 21–15 lead behind early threes from Chantelle Stuart, Alyssa Ervin, and Sophia Pearl. Clare Coyle set the tone immediately by attacking the rim, jumping passing lanes, and pushing transition pace. Her presence on both ends helped the Paladins dictate tempo for the first 10 minutes, and Furman looked poised to control the matchup.
But the surge wouldn’t last.
A 24–6 Campbell Run Flips Everything
The game completely turned in the second quarter. Campbell strung together a 24–6 run that stretched from late in the first into the middle of the second period, transforming a 21–13 Furman advantage into a 37–27 Campbell lead. The Camels outscored Furman 23–10 in the quarter and carried a 38–31 lead into halftime.
Campbell’s push was fueled by guard Jasmine Felton, who lived up to her reputation as one of the most efficient scorers in the CAA. She knocked down threes, hit midrange jumpers, and carved up Furman’s defense on back-cut drives. Gianni Boone and Jasmine Nivar added pressure by attacking the paint and controlling the offensive glass. Meanwhile, Furman struggled to match the intensity, going just 3-for-10 from the field with costly turnovers and missed free throws that allowed Campbell to seize momentum.
Felton’s Big Night Extends the Camels’ Lead
Campbell continued its control in the third quarter, using another burst to push the lead to as many as 21 points at 59–38. Felton continued her dominant night, finishing with 24 points on 8-for-11 shooting, including 3-for-5 from deep and a perfect mark at the free-throw line. Olivia Tucker added 12 points with smooth shooting on the perimeter, while Boone and N’na Konate controlled the boards, with Konate grabbing a team-high seven rebounds.
Furman showed some late push behind Coyle and Raina McGowens, who closed the third quarter strong and trimmed the deficit to 59–48 heading into the fourth. Coyle kept attacking lanes and finishing at the rim, leading the Paladins with 15 points, 5 rebounds, 6 steals, and 4 assists on a highly efficient 7-for-10 shooting night.
Paladins Rally, but Free Throws and Turnovers Tell the Story
The Paladins outscored Campbell 13–9 in the fourth quarter and mounted a promising rally. Stuart slashed for late layups, Ervin hit timely shots, and Kyraha Parnell continued to provide paint toughness with 7 points, 5 rebounds, and two blocks. Furman’s defensive pressure tightened as they forced late turnovers, but the margin remained too steep to overcome.
The decisive factors were unmistakable:
Free throws and turnovers.
Furman shot just 13-for-29 (44.8 percent) from the line, leaving 16 points on the table. Campbell wasn’t perfect either (15-for-28) but converted when needed. More damaging were the turnovers—Furman committed 21, which led directly to 25 Campbell points. By contrast, the Paladins managed only 9 points off 18 Campbell miscues.
Despite the loss, Furman won several categories: 34–30 in points in the paint and a dominant 16–5 edge in fast-break scoring. Ervin gave Furman a major spark off the bench with 11 points, while Stuart added 11 points and 5 assists, and McGowens chipped in 8 points and 4 boards.
Takeaways Moving Forward
For stretches, Furman showed what makes this roster dangerous: transition scoring, disruptive perimeter defense, and balanced guard play. But long scoring droughts and missed free throws cost the Paladins a chance at a statement win.
Furman falls to 2–3, but the effort down the stretch—combined with strong individual performances—gives the Paladins momentum as they move deeper into their nonconference slate. If they clean up the turnovers and capitalize at the free-throw line, the ceiling remains high.
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