CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Wofford's women's basketball team was able to capture their fifth straight win, accomplishing this feat for the first time since 2011, after taking down Western Carolina 65-45. The Terriers held their opponent to 50 or less points for the sixth time this season.

Wofford is now 4-0 in conference play (8-3 overall), their best start to SoCon play in program history. The Catamounts fall to 3-10 (1-3 SoCon.)

Jamari McDavid started the scoring one minute in with a 3-pointer off a Jackie Carman feed. Lilly Hatton then made a corner jumper from Alea Harris, and Hatton blocked a shot to allow Carman to get to the free-throw line in transition. The following two possessions would result in baskets for Wofford as they took a 7-0 run into the media timeout, leading 12-4. Niyah Lutz swished a trey out of the timeout and Wofford's defense forced Western Carolina into their fourth straight turnover, causing a timeout from the Catamounts. Hatton made back-to-back shots as it was now a 14-0 run for the black and gold. Lawren Cook scored two from the line to round out the 1^st quarter, as the Terriers scored 15 points off turnovers for a commanding 21-9 lead.

Helen Matthews bodied her way for a layup and MaryMartha Turner hit a fade away as the offense looked unstoppable to this point, making the Catamounts call another timeout. Alexis Tomlin was able to hit one of two from the line as the starting five for Wofford made their way back onto the court. Hatton found her way into double figures with a turn around hook shot as the scoring began to slow down for both sides. Carman was able to fly by her defender for a left-handed layup, and then she spread the love with an assist on McDavid's jumper. Wofford went into halftime with a 32-17 advantage.

Hatton started the second half with a deep two after grabbing an offensive rebound, but the defense struggled in transition and Wofford called a timeout, up by 13. Lutz was able to match a Catamounts three and then made a pair from the free-throw line to up the lead to 15, 39-24 at the media timeout. Annabelle Schultz broke a scoreless drought for the Terriers after receiving a pass from Matthews for a 3-pointer. It was Lutz on the next possession from deep, and Harris was able to get fouled just before the horn and hit two from the charity stripe, holding a double-digit lead 47-33.  

Lutz capitalized on a steal-and-score to kick off the 4^th quarter and then found Carman in the corner for a triple to extend the lead to 17. Harris scored on her own steal and McDavid went up hard to the rim for a layup, pushing the lead to 21, 56-35. The Terriers kept attacking the paint as Carman converted on a three-point play as Wofford began to pull away. With Western Carolina in foul trouble, Tomlin was able to get to the line on an off-ball foul and made one. Cook was able to grab an offensive rebound and score with the left hand, as Wofford closed out the game for a 65-45 win.

Three Terriers scored in double figures including Niyah Lutz and Jackie Carman who had 13 apiece, and Lilly Hatton who had 12. Jamari McDavid had a team-high seven rebounds with Hatton and Matthews both contributing six. The team shot 41% from three point land and 45% overall from the floor.

"We played a strong game, stuck to our game plan, and came out with a 20-point win on the road which is not easy to do", said coach Mike Merrill. "I think our first quarter set the tone for the entire game and we kept pushing the pace. We did what we needed to do to get the win and we are excited for another chance to go at it on Saturday."

The Terriers will wrap up their series with the Catamounts on Saturday at 2:00 pm.