Box Score Box Score
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. -- Wofford sophomore Natalie Gramblin was a perfect 6-of-6 from the foul line in the final minute-and-a-half as she helped lift the Terriers to a 57-50 victory over Upstate rival Furman during opening round action Thursday at the Southern Conference Tournament inside the North Charleston Coliseum in North Charleston, S.C.
Gramblin, who led all players with 14 points, stepped to the line and made all of her attempts after Wofford (10-20) opened the contest just 1-of-6 from the charity stripe.
The game was tightly contested throughout with Kendra Berry pulling the Lady Paladins within one, 47-46, with 5:38 to play. The Terriers then turned to 2007-08 SoCon Freshman of the Year Mahagony Williams for their next two buckets and the Little Rock, Ark., native gave No. 10-seed Wofford a five-point cushion with four minutes remaining.
Neither team scored for nearly three minutes as the Terriers used the clock to their advantage. Following a pair of free throws from Lee Stephens bringing Furman (10-20) within three, 51-48, at 1:24, Gramblin stepped to the line two seconds later for her first set. The Upper Marlboro, Md., product who closed the regular season ranked sixth in the league with a 73.3 free throw percentage, calmly knocked down the pair.
She later added the final four Wofford points as the Terriers pushed their advantage to nine, 57-48, before letting Chrissy Phelps drive for an uncontested layup with three seconds left.
The first half saw No. 7-seed Furman racing out to a seven-point lead on two occasions, the last coming on a Sarah Baker jumper at 11:04 for a 15-8 advantage. Wofford, however, clawed back with a 9-0 run with junior Liz Miller tallying five points, including a 3-pointer to give the Terriers a 17-15 lead with 8:12 to play.
Wofford stayed in front for the remainder of the half and took a one-point, 27-26, halftime lead.
The Terriers played a solid game on the defensive end as well, holding the Lady Paladins to 27.1 percent (16-of-59) from the field. Wofford opened the game with a 50.0 percent effort in the first half from the field before finishing 23-of-54 for 42.6 percent.
Gramblin's 14 points led a trio of Wofford players in double figures as Williams and Miller each posted 10. Sophomore Kathlyn Varno was the team's top rebounder with seven. Williams also had five blocked shots for the Terriers, who captured a win in the SoCon Tournament for the first time under head coach Edgar I. Farmer Jr. and since a 73-63 triumph over Georgia Southern March 1, 2002.
The win also marked the first time in school history Wofford earned two victories in one season over Furman.
Stephens paced the Lady Paladins with 12 points, also knocking down all six of her foul shots. Melissa Liebschwager finished with 11 points, including a trio of triples. Baker garnered game-high rebounding honors with 10.
The Terriers advance to face No. 2 seed Western Carolina at 10 a.m. Friday.
