RALEIGH, N.C. – The Wofford women's basketball team gave the No. 5 team in the nation a hard-fought contest, keeping it close in the first half. But despite the Terriers' best efforts, the NC State Wolfpack pulled away in the final two quarters to stave off an upset, 90-57, at Reynolds Coliseum.
 
Wofford falls to 0-2 on the young season, while NC State picks up its first win of the year, moving to 1-1.
 
The Terriers kept it close in the first half, holding a 16-15 lead after the first quarter and trailing by only five at the break. However, a tough second half was the key again, with the Wolfpack outscoring the Terriers 56-28 in the final two frames. Wofford shot 35.0% from the field, but NC State scored half of its shots (33-66). The Wolfpack outrebounded the Terriers 51-25, contributing to 22 second chance points to Wofford's six. NC State also tallied 24 fast break points and 40 in the paint, while Wofford put up zero and 16 in those categories, respectively.
 
"I love our grit. I love our toughness," said head coach Jimmy Garrity. "Coming into this game, we knew they were big. I mean, they're really big. They don't get number five without being really talented, and they're definitely a top-five team in the nation. And to come into their building and to play not scared – we didn't back down, and that's what I was really most proud of. And it really happened from the tip. I loved our effort. I think over time, the size of them just wore us down, but give them credit. They're well-coached; they're good players. But I'm really happy with the way we played."
 
Jackie Carman and Annabelle Schultz tied for the team lead in scoring with 16 points apiece, but it was Schultz who made her presence felt behind the arc. She knocked down four triples to set a new career high, and her 16 points were also a new career high. Alexis Tomlin followed her double-double on Tuesday by leading the team in rebounds again with seven while also putting up eight points. Reagan Rapert tallied six points and four assists in her second career start. Lawren Cook pulled down five boards off the bench, and Ja'Rae Smith dished her first three career assists.
 
"The last game, she didn't shoot it well. So she was in the gym that night after College of Charleston until 1:00 in the morning shooting," said Garrity of Schultz setting a career high in points. "That's her craft. She said, 'Coach, that's not going to happen again.' I'm just really happy for her because she's put in the work."
 
The Terriers came out swinging against their top-five foe, jumping out to an early 4-0 lead thanks to an Alexis Tomlin layup and Reagan Rapert jumper. The squads kept trading points, with NC State eventually pulling ahead, 11-8. However, Lilly Hatton buried a three to even the score. The Wolfpack responded with four more points, but Jackie Carman took control to swish a three and a layup, putting the Terriers up 16-15 after one.
 
Wofford kept applying pressure to start the second frame with Annabelle Schultz knocking down a triple just a minute and half into the period. Reagan Rapert then contributed a layup to give the Terriers what would be their biggest lead of the night, 21-15. NC State then scored 14 unanswered points, but Jackie Carman and Annabelle Schultz both swished home threes in the final minute to keep Wofford hanging around. The Terriers only trailed by five at halftime, 34-29.
 
Alexis Tomlin opened the scoring in the third quarter with a jumper to bring the Terriers within three. NC State would begin to pull away, though, putting up seven-straight points before Jackie Carman knocked down a three. The Wolfpack then went on another run, this time 10 points, before Alea Harris put home a layup. The Terriers would convert some free throws, and Jackie Carman swished yet another three, but NC State's 29-point third quarter established a 20-point lead heading into the final frame.
 
NC State continued to shoot well from beyond the arc, knocking one down after scoring a couple of free throws to start the fourth quarter. Alexis Tomlin made a layup, and Annabelle Schultz popped a triple, but NC State continued to draw fouls and convert their trips to the line. Schultz showed no quit, though, as she scored five of Wofford's last eight points – the lone exception a Lawren Cook three-pointer. But the top-five Wolfpack poured on another 27 points in the final 10 minutes to secure the 90-57 victory.
 
Wofford continues its Preseason WNIT action with game two on Sunday at Reynolds Coliseum. The Terriers will go toe-to-toe with the Towson Tigers at 4:30 pm.