SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford women's basketball team was locked in yet another defensive battle inside the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium Monday night. Behind three double-digit scorers, including Alexis Tomlin with a double-double, the Terriers outlasted the UNCG Spartans for a 55-47 victory in their final home game of the season. Wofford moves to 15-11 on the season, 10-2 in SoCon play. UNCG drops to 8-18 in the campaign, 4-9 in league action.
 
As has become commonplace, this Wofford win comes with significant importance. The result guarantees a fourth-straight season with a .500 or better overall record for the Terriers. The 10 SoCon wins are the most in program history, topping the previous mark of 9 set by the 2001-02 squad (9-9). This was the final home game of the season for Wofford, and the Terriers finish with a 10-4 record in Spartanburg, the first time with double-digit home wins since 2019-20 (11-5). It's the sixth consecutive season with a .500 or better record at home.
 
"It's hard to win," said head coach Jimmy Garrity. "This group is a special group. They really play together. They enjoy being around each other. 10 wins – I just feel really happy for them. I've got a ton of texts from former players and alumni, so just happy for our program."
 
Both defenses were stout this evening, with each team shooting at a 33.3 percent clip. The Terriers were a little better from distance, 23.8 percent compared to UNCG's 13.3 percent. Wofford forced more turnovers, 18, but still committed 15.
 
"We kind of struggled offensively the last two games, kind of stagnant sometimes, but we kept pushing," said freshman guard Reagan Rapert. "We had a few inconsistent quarters for a while, but we've been finding ways every game to just finish strong."
 
The game was truly won on the boards, with the Terriers claiming 41 rebounds to 30 for the Spartans. 16 of those 41 were offensive, leading to 16 second chance points. UNCG only grabbed nine offensive boards, mustering a single second chance point.
 
"It was probably the difference of the game," said Garrity of the rebounding numbers. "Those 16 offensive boards kept second chance points alive, and points were really hard to come by tonight. We weren't shooting it that well, but to get a second chance opportunity and maybe get to the free throw line was really big. And they're one of the best rebounding teams in the conference. They're just big and strong and athletic, so to get 41 boards was really good."
 
Alexis Tomlin led the charge for the Terriers, doing it all. With 16 points and 11 rebounds, the senior recorded her fifth double-double of season (seventh career). Both marks topped the squad, as did her two blocks and four steals. Two days after swiping four steals against Samford for a new career-high, the Myrtle Beach, S.C. native did it again to tie the career-best mark. Though tallying 11 total rebounds, none may have been bigger than her fourth of the night, which was her 500^th career rebound.
 
"It's super exciting," said Tomlin of her milestone accomplishment. "We talk about it all the time – I love to go rebound, so that was cool."
 
"I mean, she was just a beast out there," said Garrity of Tomlin. "When there's no way she should get the ball, she somehow comes up with it. Just an incredible night for her. We kind of rode her because we were struggling to score – give UNCG credit. They're really good defensively… But I'm super proud of Lexx. She just plays really hard, and she's very deserving of that."
 
"I just go out there and do what my teammates need me to do," added Tomlin of her double-double performance. "We ran lots of ball screens, and Reagan was driving it and kicking it – she made some great passes."
 
Reagan Rapert and Lilly Hatton were the other two in double figures, posting 14 and 10 points, respectively. Rapert also dished a team-best six assists, tying her career-high. This is the fifth game in which the freshman has touted six assists, doing so in both contests against the Spartans. This is the fourth-straight game Hatton has tallied double-digits, and she added five boards and a block.
 
"That's one thing I take pride in most, just finding open shots for my teammates and just trying to get everybody else involved, so that's just been kind of my goal," said Rapert of her career-best-tying assist mark.
 
Niyah Lutz was just shy of joining Tomlin with a double-double, totaling eight points and nine rebounds. Jackie Carman was also close, scoring seven points and tying her career-high with eight boards.
 
UNCG scored first after winning the opening tip, but Wofford responded with a 10-point run to start on the right foot. Jackie Carman's jumper evened the contest, and Lilly Hatton popped a three to take the lead. Alexis Tomlin then went to work, scoring back-to-back buckets, the latter of which drew a foul for the three-point play to cap the run. The Terriers led 10-2 just over five minutes into the game. However, The Spartans were able to cut into the lead, making it a one-point game before Niyah Lutz drilled a triple at the first quarter buzzer to give Wofford some breathing room and a 14-10 lead.
 
Lutz drained another trey at the beginning of the second quarter, and a Carman and-one lifted the Terrier lead to seven at the 7:36 mark. The Spartans then found life, eventually tying the game at 20 apiece with 3:26 remaining. Hatton put Wofford back in front with a layup, but a three-pointer immediately after gave UNCG the lead. Hatton claimed it back with a fastbreak score, but the Spartans got the last say before halftime with a bucket in the final seconds. UNCG led at the break, 25-24.
 
Needing a spark, Tomlin went back to work, first securing a mid-range jumper to reclaim the advantage out of the break. She then put home a fastbreak layup from a feed by Rapert, drawing a foul and draining the free shot for the and-one. The game remained tight, with the sides trading punches. Rapert twice extended the Wofford lead to six points – a trey at the 4:22 mark and two free throws at the 3:07 mark, but each time UNCG had an answer. The latter was a triple, but a Carman layup in the final minutes gave Wofford a five-point lead, 40-35, heading into the final quarter.
 
Wofford carried that momentum into the fourth, opening with paint scores by Tomlin and Lutz to jump out to a nine-point lead. After a Spartan bucket, the Terriers began to pull away with a seven-point run. Tomlin started it off with a jumper, and Rapert swished a three-ball for a double-digit (12) lead. She then made the lead 14 points at the 3:19 mark after Tomlin swiped a steal and the freshman converted a paint score. An and-one play seemed to give UNCG some life, but Tomlin and Rapert each scored once more for a 15-point lead with 1:01 left. The Spartans scored the final seven points of the contest in the last minute, but there just wasn't enough time for them to complete a comeback. Wofford held on to secure the 55-47 win.
 
The game was tight the majority of the way, with Wofford unable to pull away until that fourth quarter. And even then, UNCG's seven-point run to close the affair kept the margin closer. Though trailing at the half, the Terriers came back and prevailed for a second consecutive game. The past two games are the only two all season in which Wofford has overcome a halftime deficit to win, previously dropping the other 10 this season.
 
"We've been in these positions before," said Rapert of the team's ability to step up in the clutch. "I think we're kind of getting used to it, and I think we're doing a lot better with it."
 
The Terriers hit the road for a Tennessee trip to conclude the regular season. First up, Wofford travels to Johnson City for a matchup with ETSU at 7:00 p.m. Thursday night. The Terriers then conclude the regular season with a Saturday afternoon contest against Chattanooga at 1:30 p.m.