ORANGEBURG, SC – The SC State women (8-4) open play in the New Year Sunday when the Lady Bulldogs host Furman (9-5) in a nonconference matchup at Smith-Hammond-Middleton Memorial Center, beginning at 4 p.m.

Tickets are $5 for students and persons 17 years old and under, $7 general admission and $10 reserved. Doors open at 3 p.m.

The Lady Bulldogs, idle since a 60-51 win over College of Charleston a week ago, will be trying to continue their home-court success. Coach Doug Robertson's team is 7-1 at S-H-M, with the only setback a 55-50 loss to Florida A&M on Dec. 12. SC State is 1-3 on the road.

SC State will be paced by its backcourt duo of 5-8 senior Kourtney Williams (14.6 ppg) and 5-4 junior Amber Howard (11.0 ppg). Jasmine Coleman, a 5-10 junior, is the top rebounder with 5.9 per game.

Like the Lady Bulldogs, Furman has been highly successful at home, winning all seven contests, however, the Paladins are just 1-3 away from home, matching SC State's road record. Furman is coming off an 81-71 setback at Elon on Monday.

A member of the Southern Conference, Furman will feature a balanced scoring attack, led by Brittany Hodges (13.2 ppg), Whitney Bunn (13.1 ppg) and Holli Wilkins (11.0 ppg). Hodges in also the leader on the boards with 9.5 each outing.

The teams are meeting for the fourth time, with SC State holding a 2-1 edge, with both wins coming at home. In the most recent matchup, the Lady Bulldogs earned a 59-54 victory at Orangeburg during the 2009-2010 campaign.
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