Box Score Box score (pdf)
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Wofford women’s basketball used a stout defensive effort in the second half as the Terriers rallied from down six at the half to claim a 58-54 win over UNC Asheville Thursday night in the Kimmel Arena.
Wofford (2-1) limited the Bulldogs to 21 second half points led by a Terrier defense that force 15 second half turnovers and 26 total in the game.
The Terriers shot 36 percent from the floor and 53 percent from behind the arc, while the UNC Asheville shot 37 percent overall and 31percent from three.
Trailing 7-2, Wofford went on an 8-0 run take a 10-7 lead on a three by Chanel Stokes with just less than 14 minutes to play. UNC Asheville retook the lead 11-10 with four points from Gentry Manley a minute later. Wofford used a free throw from Jordon Frazier and a three from Rachel Brittenham retake the lead 14-11 with 11:40 showing on the clock.
The Bulldogs tied the game at 14 with an old fashion three-point play from Kelli Riles, but Wofford used a Motley basket in the paint and a Brittenham three sandwiched around a three from Grace Blaylock to take a 19-17 lead with nine and a half minutes to play in the half.
The Terriers took the lead out to 24-19 as they forced three Bulldog turnovers including two shot clock violations, only to see the Bulldogs cut the lead down to one point, 24-23, on a Leah Womack basket. Wofford answered with a three from Brittenham, her third of the half, to push the lead back to four points, 27-23, with just over four minutes to play.
UNC Asheville answered with a 10-0 run highlighted by threes from Shonese Jones and Jeannie Buckner to take a 33-27 lead with 1:35 remaining in the half. Neither would score as the Bulldogs took the six point lead, 33-27, into the half. Wofford was held scoreless over the last 4:05 of the first half.
Wofford came out of half and used a three-point play by Michelle Merritt, a fast break layup by Logan Morris and two free throws by Wrightson to pull within three points, 37-34 with 17:43 left in the game. Merritt scored four more points to give the Terriers a 40-39 lead with 15 minutes on the clock.
Merritt’s points sparked an 8-0 run as Wofford pulled out to a 42-39 lead with 12:11 on the clock. Riles got a rebound and a basket with 11:36 to pull within one point, 42-41. The basket ended an almost four-minutes scoring drought for the Bulldogs.
Wofford extended the lead out to six points, 47-41, following a Chanel Stokes jumper and Morris three from the wing with less than ten minutes to play. UNC Asheville went on a 5-0 run to cut the lead to one point, but Wofford answered back with a 4-0 run to take a 51-46 lead on a Morris jumper at the five-minute mark.
Baskets by Abra Sickles and Gentry Manly cut the Wofford lead down to 51-50, but an Wrightson offensive rebound and layup and a Morris corner three extended the lead back to six points, 56-50, with 1:10 remaining.
Following a basket by UNC Asheville Brittenham iced the game with two free throws with nine seconds on the clock to give Wofford the 58-54 come from behind win.
Wrightson led the Terriers with 16 points, while Brittenham chipped in 11 points and five assists. Morris added ten points, all in the second half. Daniella Motley collected 11 rebounds.
With her five assists, Brittenham now has 384 career assists, three shy of second place and current assistant coach Jessica Ridgill at 387.
Riles paced the Bulldogs with 13 points and 20 rebounds to earn a double-double. Jones added 11 points and three assists in the game.
The Terriers open their home schedule on November 24 at 2 p.m. against Kennesaw State for their next game.
