SPARTANBURG, S.C. – After a stumble out of the gates, the Wofford women's basketball team found its footing and did not look back to claim an 84-69 win in the home opener over Coastal Carolina, Wofford's first triumph of the campaign. Despite trailing by as much as 16 points in the second quarter, the Terriers found a groove and outscored the Chanticleers 45-24 in the second half en route the win inside Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium. Wofford is now 1-2 in the young campaign while Coastal falls to 0-3.
 
The match-up was a shooting clinic by both squads, with Coastal posting 41.7 percent and 36.0 percent from three. But Wofford was a touch better at 43.9 percent overall and 36.7 percent from range. A key difference was the turnover battle, with Wofford forcing 15 takeaways while committing 11 turnovers. This led to a Terrier advantage in points off turnovers, 16-9.
 
The Terriers also held a rebounding edge, 36-33, and claimed 14 offensive boards. This led to 12 second chance points, eight better than Coastal's four.
 
Wofford trailed by as much as 16 points in the second quarter, though it was not because of poor shooting. The Terriers opened with their best first quarter of the season at a 38.9 percent rate for 17 points. The problem was Coastal provided the best first quarter a Wofford opponent has delivered all season with 30 points on 66.7 percent shooting. However, a switch was flipped at halftime, and the Wofford defense held Coastal under 30 percent shooting in each of the final two frames while conceding only 24 points in the second half. Meanwhile, Wofford boasted 47.1 and 62.5 percent shooting clips in the third and fourth quarters, respectively, en route to 45 total second-half points.
 
"The last three minutes of that first quarter were huge for us," said head coach Jimmy Garrity of the comeback. "It finished 30-17, but for a while, we had single-digits. And just to get it where you felt like you a little bit of a chance in the start of the second quarter was really big.
 
"The message at halftime was, 'Hey, we've been in this situation before.' Because that's why we play this tough non-conference schedule," added Garrity of the halftime message to the team. "At Youngstown we were in this same situation. We were down big, didn't have a great start but then came back. Once we took the lead [tonight], I don't think we gave it back up… At halftime, they believed. And I thought our two-three zone was really big. We took care of the ball – 11 turnovers to 12 assists, which was really good. And everybody who came in gave us some meaningful minutes."
 
The Terriers were paced by a pair of 20-point outings from Rachael Rose and Jackie Carman, who each delivered 23 and 22, respectively.
 
"It was great," said Garrity of the 20-point scorers. "Jackie played a heck of a game. Down the stretch, she really took care of the ball and made probably three big buckets in the third quarter. And Rachael in the second half, she was just phenomenal. They had a hard time staying in front. Her stat line in every game is just off the charts. Twenty-three points, six assists, seven rebounds, three steals; she's a heck of a player. She's tough as nails and doesn't like to lose. And she's really showing some great leadership, too."
 
Rose's performance is her first 20-ball in a Wofford uniform. She led the team in assists with a third-straight game dishing six. Her three steals also paced the team, and she contributed seven boards.
 
"It felt great," said Rose on her first 20-ball as a Terrier. "We wanted to come out here, and we've been talking about protecting our house. So just getting the win was the most important thing. My teammates set me up for great shots, and they also knocked down shots, so I'm just really happy for everybody on our team."
 
Carman has now delivered back-to-back 20-point outings after dropping 20 on Clemson last time out. She added a pair of boards, two assists and a steal.
 
"I feel great," said Carman on her recent scoring run. "My teammates got me the ball, and whatever it takes to win I'm willing to give to my team."
 
Annabelle Schultz was the third and final Terrier in double-digits, netting 12 points, all from three-point land. She added seven boards.
 
Lilly Hatton topped the squad with 10 rebounds and scored eight points to just miss out on a double-double. Jessie Parish also scored eight, six via a pair of threes.
 
Indiya Clarke added five points and three boards, and Helen Matthews contributed four points and four rebounds. Sydnee Richetto rounds out the Wofford scorers with a pair of points.
 
Coastal Carolina opened the contest with a three, and Annabelle Schultz hit right back with one of her own. Though setting a tone for what would be a quality offensive night for both sides, Coastal started a bit quicker, utilizing an eight-point run to lead 30-17 after the first frame.
 
With a three-pointer to open quarter two, the Chanticleers stretched their lead 16 points (33-17) with 9:15 remaining. That would be as high as it climbed, as Rachael Rose converted a pair of foul shots before Schultz drilled another trey. With an eight-point run later in the frame, Wofford dropped the margin to single digits at 35-30 with 3:44 on the clock. The squads traded blows the rest of the way, but deficit was shrunk down to six at halftime, 45-39.
 
Looking to make a statement to begin the second half, Annabelle Schultz drained another triple to open the frame. Though Coastal responded with one of its own, Helen Matthews put home a bunny, and right on queue it was Schultz again hitting from distance, shaving the Chanticleer lead down to one (48-47). Shortly thereafter, Rachael Rose scored a layup, and Lilly Hatton repeated that action to put Wofford in front at 51-50 with 5:32 left. The sides kept jostling for position, with Coastal utilizing the free throw line to take two more one-point leads, but in the closing minute of the frame Jackie Carman put home a layup before Jessie Parish hit a three to give the Terriers a 61-56 edge entering the final quarter.
 
Carman opened the final frame by scoring a layup, and a Coastal three-pointer in response kept the margin at four. But then Rachael Rose put home a pair of scores, kicking off a nine-point run to stretch the lead to 13 (72-59) at the 5:55 mark. From there, Wofford rode its momentum and would not look back, keeping the margin in double figures for the remainder of the contest. Despite Coastal's best efforts at their own comeback, Wofford held firm and kept answering to preserve the 84-69 home triumph and first win of the campaign.
 
"That feels great," said Garrity of finally notching win one in the campaign. "Because I'll tell you what, I thought we were playing the Celtics out there as good as they were hitting the three-ball and scoring. But yeah, just to get that first win and protect our house, a really good environment tonight – appreciate everybody coming – really helped us out with a win."
 
"This first win feels great, first and foremost," added Carman. "However, what you saw today, us staying together, staying tough – that is what is going to be needed moving forward."
 
The Terriers will now look to carry their rhythm across the border to North Carolina this weekend as they take on High Point on Saturday, Nov. 19. Tip-off against the Panthers is slated for 7:00 p.m.