Box Score Box score
STATESBORO, GA. -- The Georgia Southern Eagles placed four players in double-digits on their way to a 57-41 win over the Wofford College Terriers Monday night in a Southern Conference game in Hanner Fieldhouse.
Wofford opened the scoring with a three-pointer from Mariah Masalin, but the Eagles responded with a three from Jamie Navarro, which would spark a 13-0 Eagle run that lasted almost nine minutes. Kelly Blake snapped the run as she knocked down a three with 9:29 remaining in the half to make the score 16-6.
At the four minute mark, a Meredyth Frye layup opened the Eagle lead to 17 points, 28-11, but the Terriers would trim the lead down to to 11 points, 28-17, with a 7-0 run to close out the half.
Wofford was 33 percent from the floor and 30 percent from three making only three of the team’s ten attempts. Georgia Southern was 40 percent from the floor and 27 percent from three making only three of their 11 attempts. The Eagles went to the free throw line eight times in the half converting three, while the Terriers never went to the line.
Wofford’s 17 points was the second lowest halftime offensive output of the season. The Terriers were held to 12 points in the opener against Gardner-Webb.
In the second half, Wofford came out and cut the lead to six, 28-22, on Mahagony Williams jumper, and an April Moorhouse three-point play with 17:33 remaining in the game. But Georgia Southern responded with 7-0 run to take a 13 point lead, 35-22, four minutes later.
At the ten minute mark, a Moorhouse basket made the score 37-29, but the Eagles again would really rally and push the lead to 43-31 with just under seven minutes to play on two Danielle Spencer free throws.
Wofford would cut the lead to single digits with Rachel Brittenham three, 43-34, and a Williams free throw, 43-35, with 5:15 to play. However, Georgia Southern never let Wofford pull any closer as they would push their lead 16 points, 55-36, riding a 12-1 run with 1:30 remaining.
The Eagles would close the game up 16 points, 57-41, to improve their over record to 9-12 and 6-6 in Southern Conference play. Wofford falls to 6-12 overall and 2-8 in the conference.
The Terriers finished the game with a 37 percent field goal percentage, compared to the Eagle’s 30 percent. Wofford also shot better from three point range posting a 31 percent three throw percentage, while the Eagles went 21 percent from long range. However, Georgia Southern made 18 of their 26 free throws, while Wofford only went to the line seven times convert three of those attempts. All seven of Wofford’s free throw attempts came in he second half.
Wofford’s 41 points was a season low for the team as they added 24 second half points on top of the 17 first half points. It was also the team’s second lowest second half output. They were held to 22 points three times prior: UNC-Wilmington, Elon and Furman.
Wofford committed 31 turnovers that lead to 24 points for Georgia Southern, while the Eagles only committed 11 turnovers that lead to eight Terrier points. Wofford won the battle of the boards with a plus 13 rebound margin, 46-33.
Wofford didn’t have a single player score in double-digits for the first time this season as Rachel Brittenham scored nine points. She also handed out three assists. Kelly Blake followed with eight points tying her career-high -- all eight came in the first 20 minutes of play. Mahagony Williams grabbed eight rebounds giving her 783 total rebounds, which is seventeen rebounds shy of becoming only the fourth player in Terrier history to grab at least 800 boards and score at least 1,000 points.
Georgia Southern placed four players in double digits. Frye led the way with 12 points, will Jamie Navarro added 11 points. Lacie Dowling and Logan Youngblood scored ten points apiece. Dowling hadn’t scored a point in her previous seven games.
The Terriers will travel host UNC Greensboro Saturday, January 29 in Ben Johnson Arena with tipoff scheduled for 3 p.m. Wofford dropped the first meeting between the two teams 80-67 in Greensboro.
