SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford women's basketball team put up a hard fight against UNC Asheville Tuesday night at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium, but the Terriers' comeback efforts fell just short, losing 70-64 to the Bulldogs.
 
Wofford drops to 1-5 after the result. Asheville improves to 3-2 following the win.
 
It was a close contest through the first half, with the Terriers trailing only 35-32 at the break. A lopsided third quarter proved harmful for Wofford, however, as the Terriers only mustered six points to Asheville's 17. Wofford would respond with 26 in the final quarter, but it was just a little too late. The Bulldogs shot 41.5% compared to 31.3% for the Terriers. Asheville also outrebounded Wofford, the biggest difference coming in offensive boards, with the Bulldogs grabbing 15. This contributed to 18 second chance points. Though Asheville committed one more turnover, the Bulldogs made the most of their extra chances, picking up 13 points off turnovers, while the Terriers only totaled five.
 
Alexis Tomlin led the charge for Wofford, posting her second double-double of the season and the fourth of her career with 17 points and 12 rebounds. These marks are new season-highs, and they fall just shy of her career-bests (19 and 13, respectively). Niyah Lutz was the other Terrier to post double-digits points, tallying 13. She also pulled down seven boards and contributed a new single game best four steals for the Terriers. Helen Matthews added nine points, four rebounds and two assists. Jackie Carman contributed eight points of her own. Reagan Rapert dished two assists and also snagged two steals, adding four points.
 
"Got to give Asheville a lot of credit for coming in here and getting a win," said head coach Jimmy Garrity. "They played really hard, and at the end of the day, they made more plays than we did. I thought Lexx played her heart out with 17 points and 12 rebounds. We will face another really good team in High Point next week. It's going to take our best effort to win."
 
Jackie Carman opened the scoring for Wofford by draining a three-pointer. Back-to-back buckets put Asheville ahead, but Reagan Rapert downed a pair of free throws to help the Terriers retake the lead. Asheville responded with nine-straight points to go back up. Niyah Lutz put home a layup, but the Bulldogs came back with a jumper. Alexis Tomlin helped chip into the lead with a pair of layups, but the Bulldogs knocked home five points. However, Alexis Tomlin drew a foul on a layup and knocked down the free throw to complete the and-one, and Abbey Crawford splashed a jumper to keep things tight, 20-16, after the first quarter.
 
Asheville opened the second quarter with the first five points. Annabelle Schultz hit a couple of free throws, and the Bulldogs hit a jumper, but Sydnee Richetto came up with a triple to cut into the lead. Alexis Tomlin swished two free throws, and Asheville hit a jumper, but Niyah Lutz completed a three-point play of her own to bring Wofford within three points. Asheville seemed to nix the momentum with a triple, but Helen Matthews hit one of her own to keep the Terriers alive. After Asheville hit two free throws, Matthews put home a layup to end the half with Wofford only trailing by three, 35-32.
 
Alexis Tomlin began the second half with a layup, but Asheville responded with one of its own. The Bulldogs then hit a jumper, but Tomlin came through with another layup. Asheville then went on an 11-point run. Reagan Rapert broke the run with a pair of free throws, but they would be Wofford sixth and final points of the quarter. Asheville outscored Wofford, 17-6, in the third frame.
 
With little margin for error, the Terriers came out swinging in the fourth quarter. Lilly Hatton drained a triple for her first bucket of the contest to start things off. After Asheville missed a triple of their own, Helen Matthews found Jackie Carman on the fast break, who knocked down the layup and drew the foul for a three-point play. Asheville swung the momentum back in their favor with a three-pointer to start an eight-point run. Just when it seemed like the final nail was in the coffin, Wofford lit back up when Niyah Lutz splashed a three. She then knocked down a jumper, and Alexis Tomlin put home a layup to bring Wofford within nine. The squads traded points before a layup extended the Bulldogs' lead. Another layup would put them up by 15, but Annabelle Schultz splashed a triple to keep the fight alive. Helen Matthews would knock home a three of her own to pull Wofford back to within nine points, but there just wasn't enough time left on the clock. Niyah Lutz hit a three-pointer with 12 seconds left to make it a six-point game, but the comeback attempt would fall short at the Terriers fell, 70-64.
 
Wofford will get a week off before concluding the first month of the season next Tuesday, Nov. 30 at Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium when High Point comes to town. Tipoff with the Panthers is set for 5:00 pm.