CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Despite rallying from a nine point fourth quarter deficit to retake the lead, the Wofford women's basketball team fell, 69-66, to Western Carolina on Saturday afternoon in Cullowhee, N.C.
 
The Catamounts raced out to a nine point lead early in the fourth quarter. However, the Terriers responded with an 11-0 run to take the lead.  Western Carolina rallied back to grab the lead with under a minute remaining, but Maria Corella hit a three pointer to give the Terriers a 66-65 advantage with under 40 seconds left. From there, the Catamounts made four free throws and held Wofford off the board to escape with the win.
 
Chloe Wanink led the Terriers with 16 points. She also delivered four rebounds and tied a career high with five assists. Grayson Pinholster followed up her 17 point effort Wednesday night against UNCG with a 15 point, 12 rebound performance, good for her team leading 5^th double-double of the season. In her first career start, Cairo Booker notched career highs in points (13) and made free throws (9). Kelsey Lambdin added 10 points and eight rebounds, seven of which were offensive.
 
With normal starting guard Sarah Traynor not in the lineup, Wanink, Corella, and Booker played the entire 40 minutes.
 
Once again, the Terriers started the game strong, scoring the first six points of the game and taking a 10-4 lead into the first media timeout.  Wofford built the lead to 14-4 with under a minute remaining in the quarter, but the Catamounts scored the final five points of the period to cut the Terrier lead to just five going into the second.
 
The Catamounts continued their offensive momentum into the second quarter, as they outscored the Terriers, 11-4, over the first three minutes of the quarter. The Terriers were able to recover and go into halftime trailing by just two. The Terriers missed their first eight three point attempts in the first half, before Emily Ryan's triple tied the game at 27 late in the second quarter. Wofford owned the rebounding battle, corralling 21 rebounds compared to the Catamounts 14.
 
Both teams came out of halftime scoring with relative ease. The Terriers were able to take a brief lead on Maria Corella's three pointer to open the second half, but Western Carolina responded with a 24-14 run to take a game high nine point lead, before Corella hit a buzzer-beating three to cut the Terrier deficit to just six entering the fourth quarter.
 
The Terriers battled to stay within striking distance in the fourth. After the Catamounts stretched their lead to nine points early in the quarter, Wofford answered with an 11-0 run to take a two point lead with under five minutes to play. With the Terriers trailing, 65-63, with under a minute remaining, Wanink stole a Catamount defensive rebound and found Corella wide open in the corner, which gave the Terriers a one point lead. However, the Catamounts drew fouls on the next two possessions and hit four free throws to take a 69-66 lead. With the ball and under five seconds left, Wofford's last second three went wide and the Catamounts were able to emerge with the hard fought victory.
 
Despite the loss, the Terriers outrebounded Western Carolina, 47-27. The difference for the Catamounts was shooting 49% from the field, compared to the Terriers' 35.7%.
 
Up next, the Terriers will have a week off, before making the short trip to Greenville to take on Furman next Saturday, Feb. 11 at 2 p.m.