NEW ORLEANS – The Wofford women's basketball team put up a valiant effort against Tulane University at the Devlin Fieldhouse Thursday night. Despite 23 fourth quarter points and three Terriers netting double figures, the early deficit proved to be too much for the Terriers to comeback from as they fell to the Green Wave, 72-62. Wofford falls to 4-9 on the season while Tulane improves to 8-3.
 
"I'm really proud of our effort and fight tonight," said head coach Jimmy Garrity. "Tulane is well-coached and a really good and talented team."
 
The Terriers shot 32.9 percent from the field, 22.2 percent beyond the arc. Tulane was on par from three, shooting 22.6 percent, but the Green Wave shot better overall with a percentage of 41.5. Wofford committed its fewest turnovers of the season with eight, while also forcing 17 turnovers from Tulane to create 16 extra points. But the game was decided on the boards, with the Green Wave pulling down a significant rebounding advantage, 52-34, to create 15 second chance points to Wofford's 10. The Terriers trailed by as much as 23 points with 1:21 left in the third quarter, but an explosive 23-point fourth quarter brought them back into the game. The hole was just too much to climb out of, however, as Wofford's efforts fell 10 points short. This is third consecutive game in which the Terriers never led.
 
"I thought we did a great job taking care of the ball tonight," added Garrity. "Only eight turnovers against their pressure defense was really good."
 
Three Terriers scored in double figures, with Jackie Carman leading the way with 18 points. Lilly Hatton netted 12 while Reagan Rapert posted 10. Rapert's career-high five assists led the squad. Alexis Tomlin secured eight boards to top the team, adding six points. Hatton's six boards were close behind. Niyah Lutz and Annabelle Schultz each added seven points, and Helen Matthews contributed two to round out the scoring.
 
Tulane jumped out to an early lead, scoring 47 seconds into the affair and totaling the game's first five points. Lilly Hatton put Wofford on the board with a layup almost two and a half minutes in, but Tulane followed with five more points. Hatton swished a jumper, and Jackie Carman secured one of her own to bring the Terriers within four. The squads then traded triples, Wofford's off the hand of Reagan Rapert, but the Green wave responded with four more points. The teams traded buckets, and Annabelle Schultz netted a fastbreak score to close the first quarter with Wofford down just six points.
 
Helen Matthews put home a layup to keep the Terriers close to start the second frame, but they would be Wofford's only points for a while. Tulane rattled off 16 consecutive points in about four and a half minutes to move out to a 20-point lead. Niyah Lutz finally ended the run with a three-pointer, but a Green Wave jumper helped them keep pace. The Terriers showed now quit, however, as Reagan Rapert and Jackie Carman drilled back-to-back triples to draw Wofford back within 13. Tulane secured a jumper, but Lilly Hatton put home a layup and free throw to convert the three-point play at the end of the half. Wofford trailed 39-27.
 
Tulane came out of the break hot, netting the half's first six points. Alexis Tomlin knocked down a pair of free throws two and half minutes in to get Wofford in the second half scoresheet. After a Green Wave jumper, the Terriers hit a stride with six-straight points of their own. First, Lilly Hatton scored, then Annabelle Schultz swished followed by Niyah Lutz to cap off the run. Wofford seemed to have some momentum, but Tulane immediately nixed it with an 11-point run to jump out to a 23-point lead. Tomlin ended the run and the quarter with a layup, but the Terriers faced an uphill battle with a 60-39 deficit.
 
But Wofford was up for the challenge, as Alexis Tomlin put home a layup to begin the final frame. Tulane responded, but the Terriers then went on a run. Lilly Hatton swished a bunny, and then Jackie Carman completed a three-point play. Reagan Rapert knocked down a jumper to cut the deficit to 14 points. The Green Wave secured a bucket, but Carman drained one from distance to keep the momentum with the Terriers. However, Tulane scored five-straight points to pull back out to 17 points ahead. The Terriers continued to nip at Tulane's heels, though, as Carman swished a deep two. Rapert was sent to the line, knocking down both. Carman then converted another and-one to bring Wofford within 10 points with a little over two minutes remaining. The comeback seemed to be too little too late, however, as the Terriers could not get more baskets to fall and were forced to begin fouling. After three successful free throws, Annabelle Schultz drained a tripled as time expired to cut to final deficit to 10. Wofford's valiant efforts fell short, 72-62.
 
"Our fourth quarter was really strong. We had a few possessions to cut it to single-digits with good looks, but we just couldn't knock down the shot," said Garrity of Wofford's comeback attempt. "We will get back and prepare for our game Saturday against Erskine, then it's on to Southern Conference play. I feel our tough non-conference schedule has prepared us for conference play."
 
The Terriers will return home to the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium for their final non-conference matchup of the season on Saturday, Jan. 1. Tipoff against the Erskine Flying Fleet is scheduled for 2:00 pm. Wofford will then begin Southern Conference play by hosting the Western Carolina Catamounts on Thursday, Jan. 6 at 6:00 pm.