Box Score Box score (pdf)
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Morgan Wrightson turned in her second career double-double with 18 points and ten rebounds, but the Wofford women’s basketball team fell short against Samford in the opening around of the Southern Conference Tournament Friday night in Kimmel Arena.
Wrigtson ends her career with 1,142 points, 805 as a Terrier. Wrightson’s double-double was the second of her career at Wofford. Her first double-double ironically came in her first game as a Terrier against Kennesaw State on November 11, 2011, when she had 12 points and ten rebounds.
With six minutes to play, a Daneilla Motley jumper cut the Samford lead back down to four points, 49-45, but Jazmine Martin knocked down a long three with the shot clock winding down to make it a seven point game, 52-45, with four minutes to play setting the game up for the close finish.
The Terriers used a 6-0 run to pull within a point, 54-53, on a Logan Morris three from the top of the key with 1:44 remaining. A minute later following a Bulldog missed jumper, Wofford was whistled for a loose ball foul despite being in position for the rebound. Instead of Terrier possession or a one-and-one chance down one, Samford’s Taylor Reece was sent to the line where she converted both free throws to give Samford a 56-53 lead.
After Reece’s the free throws, Wrightson converted a quick layup, but Martin made two free throws on the other end for the Bulldogs to keep the lead at three points, 58-55, with 26 seconds to play. Wofford’s game-tying three rattled out and Krista Stricklin sealed the Samford win, 59-55, with a free throw.
The Terriers ended the game, 35 percent from the floor, 27 percent from three and 13-of-18 from the free throw line for 72 percent. Samford finished at 38 percent overall, 42 percent from three and 75 percent from the charity stripe.
Wofford held a 40-34 advantage in rebounds, but Samford scored 16 point off of 17 Terrier turnovers. The Bulldogs only committed 13 turnovers allowing Wofford 16 points.
Samford opened the game with a 17-4 run on a Reece jumper at the 13-minute mark, but Wofford responded with a 7-0 spurt highlighted by a Wrightson three-point play to cut the Bulldog lead down to 17-11 with ten minutes to play in the first half.
Hannah Dawson ended the Wofford run with a three to push the Samford lead out 20-11 with 8:43 showing on the clock, but Wofford fought back and closed out the first half with a 10-4 run to trim the Bulldog lead down to 24-21 at the break. Wrightson made the final shot of the half with a step back jumper from the elbow at the horn.
Coming out of the intermission, Wofford immediately cut the lead down to one point on layup from Morris, but Samford responded as they pushed the margin out to five points, 28-23. The Terriers again pulled within a point, 28-27, on a Wrightson free throw at the 15-minute mark, but the Bulldogs opened the lead up to 40-29 with a 12-2 run on two free throws from Taylor Reece with 12 minutes to play.
Trailing 42-31, Wofford battled back and trimmed the lead down to four points, 44-40 following two Mariah Masalin free throws, Samford again answered with a 5-0 run to retake a nine point lead, 49-40, on a Strickland jumper with eight minutes remaining to set up for the close finish.
Motley followed Wrightson with 15 points and 11 rebounds for her team leading 11th double-double and the 20th of her career at Wofford. It was the first time since December 22, 2010 two Terriers recorded a double-double.
Reece paced the Bulldogs with 24 points, while Martin followed 14 points. Stricklin grabbed a team-high 11 rebounds, while Dawson handed out six assists. Dawson also had nine points and eight rebounds.
Wofford ends its season at 8-21 overall and 3-17 in Southern Conference play.
