SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford women's basketball team fell 81-75 to UNCG in overtime on Saturday afternoon at Richardson Indoor Stadium. The Spartans downed the Terriers thanks to 19 points and 22 rebounds from the conference's top rebounder, Ije Ajemba. The loss moves Wofford to 10-16 overall and 3-8 in the SoCon.
 
UNCG opened the game on a 10-0 run, knocking down four of its first six shots including two from downtown. After missing the first four shots of the game, Wofford found some rhythm on the offensive side of the ball making six of its next 11 field goals, cutting the Spartan lead to two after ten minutes. Jamari McDavid led the Terriers with eight points in the quarter on 3-3 from the floor while Da'Ja Green had four points, three rebounds and one assist.
 
Despite trailing by as many as 13 in the first quarter, the Terriers showed no quit. Wofford took its first lead of the game at the 7:22 mark of the second period thanks to an 8-4 run that was capped off by a Kelsey Lambdin three-pointer. Leading 23-21, Wofford then scored 12 of the next 18 points to take an eight point lead with just over two and a half minutes to play in the half. Final minute buckets from Green and McDavid allowed Wofford to stretch the lead to 39-29 at the break. In the quarter the Terriers shot 8-15 (53%) from the floor and 4-8 from downtown. Green had nine points in the quarter, including two three balls while Emily Ryan also knocked down a pair of triples.
 
The Spartans and Terriers played a back and forth third quarter in which UNCG outscored Wofford 17-13. Both teams struggled from the floor as Wofford shot just 5-18 (27%) while UNCG was 7-18 (38%). Although Wofford struggled offensively, the team was able to maintain the lead throughout the period thanks to five UNCG turnovers. Ije Ajemba dominated the quarter for the Spartans scoring five points and grabbing seven rebounds including two offensive boards. Ryan and McDavid paced Wofford in the period with four points apiece.
 
UNCG stormed out of the gates in the fourth quarter with a 17-10 run over the first eight minutes. The Spartans took a 63-62 lead at the 2:38 mark thanks a three-pointer from Alexus Willey. The lead was the first for UNCG, since the score was 21-20 with 7:42 to play in the second quarter. Out of a timeout, the visiting Spartans drew up a play for Nadine Soliman who calmly knocked down a mid-range jumper to extend the lead to three at 65-62. On the ensuing possession, Cairo Booker buried a shot from just inside the arc to cut the lead to one. After Te'Ja Twitty split a pair of free throws, Green drove the lane for a game-tying layup with 8.8 seconds remaining on the clock. UNCG had a look from distance to win the game but could not find the mark as time expired with the score tied at 68.
 
It was a slow start to the overtime period as both teams combined for just two points in the first two minutes. Trailing by two, the Terriers got a layup from A.C. Atha who was fouled in the act of shooting but she could not convert on the free throw. The Spartans trailed by three after Jamie Grob split a pair at the line, but responded with seven of the next nine points to regain the lead at 77-75. With 11 seconds to play the Terriers turned the ball over from a sideline inbounds position which sealed the win for UNCG.
 
Despite the loss, Wofford led for nearly 26 minutes while shooting 27-69 (39%) from the floor. Da'Ja Green led the team with 23 points, nine rebounds and five assists while playing all 45 minutes. Cairo Booker (12) and Jamari McDavid both eclipsed double figures for the Terriers as senior Kelsey Lambdin finished with three points, three rebounds and two assists while fellow senior Emily Ryan finished with 12 points, two boards and two assists.
 
Wofford will return to the court on Thursday, February 15 when the Terriers travel to Johnson City to face off against ETSU. The team will then remain on the road for the final two games of the season with matchups at Chattanooga (Feb. 17) and Furman (Feb. 24).