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BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. – Sophomore guard Jordan Frazier scored a career-high 26 points and came up with a career-high eight steals, but it was all in a losing effort as the Wofford women's basketball team was defeated by Gardner-Webb in non-conference action, 68-57, Saturday night inside Paul Porter Arena.
Frazier was 6-of-14 from the field, 3-of-4 from long range, and hit 11 of her 13 free throws. It marked Frazier's third 20-point game of the season. Heading into the night, she was also averaging 3.9 steals per contest to rank No. 4 in the NCAA. She went for eight on Saturday, upping her season average to 4.4.
After trailing by six at halftime and as many as 15 in the second half, Wofford (2-6, 0-1 SoCon) went on a 15-4 run to get within four, 53-49, with 6:37 to play. The Runnin' Bulldogs (6-3, 1-1 Big South) responded with the next four points to re-extend the lead.
With Wofford down six and under four minutes to play, senior Logan Morris hit a 3-pointer from the corner, but it was waived off. A foul was called on sophomore Ashton Fleming underneath the basket, keeping it a two-possession game. The Terriers got back within four, but Gardner-Webb, which did not make a field goal after the 6:12 mark, went 14-of-15 from the line through the final six minutes to seal the victory.
"I thought our team played with incredible energy the last 20 minutes," Wofford head coach Edgar Farmer said. "We executed what we talked about at halftime, but just could not get over the hump. If we put two halves together, and play like we did in the second half, we can be very successful.
"Jordan did an outstanding job of setting the tone defensively. We knew ball pressure was going to be a key in this game and she really answered the bell with eight steals. It carried us offensively as well, in both halves. She is playing at a high level right now and we are excited about the future if she continues to play at this rate."
Frazier was joined in double figures by Fleming, who tied her career-high with 10 points and grabbed a team-high eight rebounds.
The Terriers struggled from the field, shooting 26.2 percent (16-61) on the evening. Wofford was 5-28 (17.9 percent) at halftime and 11-33 (33.3 percent) in the second half. Gardner-Webb shot 42.9 percent (21-49) and was 74.2 percent (23-31) from the charity stripe – GWU was 58.9 percent from the free throw line heading into the contest.
On the glass, the Terriers edged GWU in rebounds, 41-40, and both teams had 22 turnovers. Gardner-Webb's bench outscored Wofford's, 20-7.
For Gardner-Webb individually, Catrina Green went for a team-high 18 points and was responsible for the majority of the boards with a game-high 17. Green, who is No. 7 in the NCAA in field goal percentage, shot 8-of-10 from the field. Jasmine Dale scored 16 points and Olivia Parker rounded out the Runnin' Bulldogs in double figures with 10. Candace Brown dished out a game-high six assists.
Frazier got the game off to a good start with steals on each of Gardner-Webb's first two possessions. She put down her first points with a pair of free throws four minutes in, and got hot from the field midway through the period with a 3-pointer to give the Terriers a 12-11 lead. Frazier hit two more from the stripe to hit the 10-point mark with 10:03 to play in the half.
While Frazier was getting the work done for Wofford, Green was doing the same for the Runnin' Bulldogs. She scored four straight GWU field goals in the opening 10 minutes to carry the home side to a 15-14 lead.
The lead changed hands for third time in the half a few minutes later, courtesy of Frazier. The 5-foot-2 guard made a layup and was fouled by Jessica Heilig, sinking the free throw to put Wofford back in front, 17-15, with 8:15 remaining in the half.
From there, Gardner-Webb went on a 10-0 run, keeping Wofford scoreless for the next six and a half minutes. At the 1:47 mark, Washington ended the drought with a pair of free throws, getting the Terriers back within six, 25-19. Wofford went into the locker room down by as many, 29-23.
Wofford made only five field goals and was shooting 17.9 percent in the first half, while GWU had 12 field goals and was 46.2 percent. Frazier led all scorers with 15 points. Green had 10 points and seven rebounds.
Frazier got the second half off to a good start as well, getting a steal and racing down the court to make a layup, and-1, cutting the deficit to one possession. GWU responded with a 9-0 run to open up a 12-point lead, before Frazier made another layup while getting fouled to reach 21 points with 16:46 still to play in the game.
GWU started to get into foul trouble, allowing the Terriers to claw back in the game. The Runnin' Bulldogs took a timeout at the 14:18 mark after committing their sixth foul of the half and leading by 14. Wofford's trouble was in the turnover department, chalking up eight in the first eight minutes of the half.
The Terriers changed to a full-court press with GWU ahead by 14. It worked, forcing turnovers and fouls, and allowing Wofford to go on a 9-0 run. Morris capped the run with a 3-pointer at the 7:34 mark, cutting the deficit to five. Doreen Richardson made a layup to get GWU back up by seven, but Frazier responded immediately with another Terrier 3-pointer, making it a four-point game with 6:37 remaining.
Gardner-Webb made its last field goal at the 6:12 mark to regain a six-point edge. Junior Lauren Kirby went to work with six straight Wofford points, making it a four-point game once more with her last at the 3:05 mark.
Still trailing by four with 90 seconds to play, Frazier came up with a steal, but missed a layup on the other end. GWU handed the ball to Green on the next possession, who got underneath the basket and was fouled by Kirby. Green made both free throws, and GWU polished off a home victory by hitting all but one of its free throws the rest of the way.
The Wofford women's basketball team has a quick turnaround, competing in Southern Conference action on Monday at Georgia Southern. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.
Terrier Notes
- Jordan Frazier scored a career-high 26 points and had a career-high eight steals.
- Frazier's 26 points are two shy for breaking Wofford's all-time top 10 for a single game. The eight steals rank third most in Terrier history.
- Ashton Fleming tied her career-high with 10 points.
- Gardner-Webb improves to 6-16 all-time against Wofford, and has now won four of the last five meetings.
