Box Score Box Score
SPARTANBURG, S.C. -- Wofford needed an extra five minutes, but the Terriers took advantage of the additional time to pull away for an 83-71 triumph Wednesday afternoon in non-conference women's basketball action against Bethune-Cookman inside the Benjamin Johnson Arena in Spartanburg, S.C. The contest was the first overtime tilt for both schools this season.
The Terriers built a six-point halftime cushion and then would push their lead to as high as 16 in the second half on a corner 3-pointer by junior Laura Depko at 13:50 to make it 45-29. The Wildcats, however, did not back down and slowly chipped away at the lead. Bethune-Cookman (3-9) would then tally the next nine points to dwindle the margin to seven, 45-38, with 12:05 to play in regulation.
Back-to-back layups by Cleniece Roberts and Demetria Frank with just over 10 minutes remaining trimmed the deficit to three before junior Liz Miller netted a jumper at 9:35 to give Wofford (8-4) a five-point edge, 49-44. Following missed opportunities on the Terrier end, Keturah Newkirk hit a triple with 8:27 left to make the lead two, 49-47.
Sophomore Kelly Dwyer would then hit a 3-pointer, followed by another from classmate Natalie Gramblin as Wofford increased its lead back to eight with seven minutes showing on the clock in regulation. Dwyer kept the Wildcats at a double-digit deficit with her second trey to make it 62-52 with 2:57 remaining.
Bethune-Cookman, however, would not go away despite a pair of free throws from sophomore Kathlyn Varno at 2:08 giving Wofford an 11-point lead, 64-53. The Wildcats outscored the hosts 13-2 over the final two minutes, which was started by a 3-pointer via Frank. After B-C, down two, forced a Terrier turnover with six seconds left, Frank fed a wide-open Natasha Ferguson underneath for the game-tying layup as the buzzer sounded, which forced overtime.
In the extra time, the Terriers would not be denied as they hit 4-of-5 field goals and 9-of-10 foul shots to pull away and outscore the Wildcats 17-5 in the extra frame. Wofford held the visitors off the board until a jumper by Jasmine Daniels at 1:37 brought B-C within nine, 77-68.
The first period featured a tightly played affair with Varno hitting a layup at 8:54 to knot the score at 15-15, which would prove to be the final tie until the end of regulation. The Terriers used an 8-0 run, capped by a basket from junior Summer Nichols, to open the margin before taking a six-point, 30-24, halftime lead.
Varno finished with her second double-double of the campaign, and third in her career, with a career-best 14 points and a season-high 11 rebounds. Her other double-double came at Gardner-Webb Dec. 4.
Dwyer netted a career-best 16 points to pace Wofford, while her five steals tied a career high and seven boards were one shy of a career-best outing.
Miller gave the Terriers a trio of players in double-figure scoring with 15 points, while she hauled in a career-best eight rebounds and dished a season-high seven assists.
Ferguson led the Wildcats and all players with 20 points and 12 caroms. She was one of two Bethune-Cookman players with a double-double, as Newkirk added 18 points and 10 boards. Frank finished with 16 points and a team-high six assists.
Wofford, winners of five straight for the first time since the 2001-02 squad opened its campaign with five in a row, will return to Southern Conference action when it hosts Upstate rival Furman at 6 p.m. Saturday in the second half of a Terrier basketball doubleheader. The contest will follow the men's game at 3 p.m. against West Virginia Wesleyan.
