Box Score (.pdf)

SPARTANBURG, S.C. - The Wofford women’s basketball team picked up its first win of the season on Tuesday night over the Runnin’ Bulldogs of Gardner-Webb inside the Benjamin Johnson Arena. Wofford led at one time by as many as 16 points, but held on in the end for the 78-72 victory.  Wofford is now 1-4 on the season while Garder-Webb falls to 4-2

In the opening half, Gardner-Webb jumped out to an early 10-2 lead just two minutes into the game.   A Liz Miller basket at the 17:08 followed by a Mahagony Williams layup cut the lead to four. Gardner-Webb was charged with a technical foul seconds before the first media timeout but the Terriers were unable to convert on the free throw attempts. Wofford cut the lead to two on a layup by Kathlyn Varno but the Runnin’ Bulldogs responded with a four point run to push the lead to 16-10.

The Terriers stormed back to take its first lead of the game paced by Maddie Helms who came off the bench to knock down two triples to give Wofford at 17-16 lead with eleven minutes left on the clock. Wofford would continue to lead but only by a couple of possessions with eight minutes left in the half. However, a steal and layup by Kelly Dwyer gave the Terriers a ten point advantage that was increased to twelve on a Miller layup with 5:21 left to play. Wofford would continue to lead, at times by as many as 16, throughout the remainder of the first half taking a 44-36 advantage into the break.

Wofford shot 44.1 percent from the floor, 44.4 percent from behind the arc and 62.5 percent from the charity stripe in the opening period. The Terrier defense held Gardner-Webb to 31.4 percent shooting from the field while forcing 16 Runnin’ Bulldog Turnovers. Wofford’s bench outscored the Gardner-Webb Bench by a 23-12 margin with Helms leading the way with eight points.

Williams quickly asserted herself down low for the Terriers at the start of the second half scoring the first four points for Wofford. Gardner-Webb would cut the Terrier lead down to seven with just under 15 minutes left in the game; the closest they had been since the six minute mark in the opening half. The Runnin’ Bulldogs continued to inch closer and got within three points just under the ten minute mark. A three point play by Wofford’s Miller increased the lead back to six.

Gardner-Webb would continue to hang around and got back within four after a three point play with less than five minutes left in the contest. The gap closed to just two for the Terriers after a Wofford turnover was converted into a Runnin’ Bulldog layup. Natalie Gramblin converted two free throws coming out of the final media timeout to push the Terrier lead back to four. Kathlyn Varno got her first two points of the game at the 2:23 mark to extend the lead to six. Gramblin then converted a layup on the next Terrier possession with less than five seconds left on the shot clock and 29 seconds left in regulation to give Wofford a seven point lead. Solid free throw shooting for the Terriers at the end gave Wofford its first win of the season.

The Terriers shot 37.1 percent for the game from the field, 33.3 percent from three, and 77.8 percent from the foul line. The Runnin’ Bulldogs only shot 35.2 percent from the floor, 33.3 percent from behind the arc and 70.8 percent from the foul line. Wofford was a perfect 11 for 11 in the second half from the foul line and forced Gardner-Webb into 26 turnovers for the game.

Miller led the Terrier offense tallying 16 points. Dwyer and Gramblin also reached double figures for the Terriers with 11 and ten points, respectively. Kate Dempsey led the Terriers on the glass with eight boards while Summer Nichols added six.

Gardner-Webb was led by Laura Povilonyte who tallied 17 points and Dominique Hudson picked up 13 points including going 7-11 at the foul line.

The Terriers return to action on Thursday as they open its Southern Conference Slate against SoCon newcomer Samford at 6 p.m. inside the Benjamin Johnson Arena.