CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Wofford women's basketball team was locked in a tight back-and-forth tilt inside the Ramsey Center Thursday night, but the Terriers ultimately fell 53-49 to the Catamounts. The score was tied at the end of each of the first three quarters, but Western Carolina was able to close out the game in the fourth and stave off a Terrier comeback. Wofford falls to 11-5 (1-1 SoCon) on the season while Western Carolina improves to 8-10 (1-2 SoCon).
 
The Terriers shot 30.5 percent from the field (18-of-59) and just 15.0 percent from three (3-of-20). Western Carolina fared better on both marks, shooting 37.5 percent (21-of-56) and 35.7 percent beyond the arc (5-of-14). The key difference was the glass, which the Catamounts won 46-33. Notably, Western Carolina doubled Wofford's offensive rebounds, 8-4, for a second chance points advantage of 8-2.
 
The Wofford defense forced 18 Catamount turnovers and notched nine steals, but an off night on offense secured only nine points off those turnovers. However, the Terriers protected the ball well, committing only eight giveaways.
 
The game was a battle the whole way, featuring 10 ties and five lead changes.
 
Lilly Hatton led the way for Wofford, scoring 13 points and leading the rebounding efforts with seven boards. Rachael Rose joined her in double-digits with 10 points, adding two boards and an assist.
 
Jackie Carman posted nine points, and she led the team by dishing four assists. Helen Matthews and Annabelle Schultz each scored seven points, and the duo secured five and four rebounds, respectively. Schultz was stifling on defense, recording four steals, almost half of Wofford's total.
 
Ja'Rae Smith rounds out Wofford's scorers with three points. Though scoreless, Sydnee Richetto tallied a strong rebounding night with five boards.
 
Rachael Rose was fouled on a shot just over a minute into the contest and converted both free throws to put Wofford on the board first. Lilly Hatton followed by sinking a three and then converting a pair of free throws for an early 7-0 lead at the 7:52 mark. But the Catamounts fought back and chipped away, eventually hitting a triple in the closing seconds of the quarter to tie the score at 15-15 after 10 minutes of play.
 
A Western Carolina score in the opening minute of quarter two put the Catamounts ahead, but a Ja'Rae Smith free throw at the 5:57 mark tied the contest once more at 18-18. The squads kept trading blows and the lead, with neither team able to claim more than a two point edge the rest of the way. The Catamounts looked to enter the break on top, but Helen Matthews put home a paint score in the final seconds to even the affair at 27-27 entering halftime.
 
Western Carolina reclaimed the lead out of the break by converting a three-point play. A three-pointer later at the 3:51 mark gave the Catamounts a six-point (35-29) lead, but Annabelle Schultz responded in kind with her own to help Wofford keep pace. Just 23 seconds later, Jackie Carman drilled a trey herself to pull Wofford level, 35-35, with 3:06 to go. The sides traded some more blows until Lilly Hatton scored with 28 seconds left to put Wofford ahead by two, but a Catamount layup with six seconds left tied the score at 41-41 entering the final frame.
 
Western Carolina scored the first four points of the fourth, but Rachael Rose scored a jumper to keep Wofford within a score. Helen Matthews put home a pair of free throws with 1:14 remaining to bring the Terriers within two points (49-47), but the Catamounts responded with a bucket. However, Annabelle Schultz put home a paint score just nine seconds later to help Wofford keep pace. But time was the enemy, and the Terriers had to enter foul mode and were not able to complete the comeback. Despite Wofford's best efforts, the Terriers dropped their first conference game of the season, 53-49, on the road.
 
The Terriers now turn their sights to Saturday's contest, another road affair at UNCG. Tip-off is slated for 4:00 p.m. against the Spartans.