GREENVILLE, S.C. – With the final seconds ticking down, the Furman Paladins put up their last look to force overtime, but the Wofford women's basketball team stayed stout on defense to earn a 69-66 win Saturday afternoon at Bon Secours Wellness Arena. The Terriers improve to 16-6 (6-2 SoCon) with the triumph while the Paladins drop to 9-14 (1-7 SoCon).
 
"I've just been telling them all year long that they've been doing some incredible things," said head coach Jimmy Garrity of the win. "And tonight, Furman played really well, really hard. It got close down the stretch, but we still made enough plays and got enough stops. We just beat a really good team in a tough place to play and a tough environment. These guys continue to impress me, and I'm just really proud of their effort."
 
Wofford continues to make history with each passing game. This was the first time that the Terriers had ever played in "The Well," and as such it was Wofford's first-ever win in the venue. The victory is Wofford's eighth on the road this season, tying the program record which had been set three times prior.
 
In his seventh season at the helm, the triumph was also the 100^th for head coach Jimmy Garrity as the head coach of the Terriers. He is only the second coach in program history to ever reach the 100 wins threshold at Wofford and is now the Terriers' winningest coach at the Division I level.
 
"It's gone by fast. I didn't know that until the players told me afterwards," said Garrity of his milestone. "Those kind of things aren't important to me; the players are the important thing and their experience here at Wofford."
 
Wofford out-shot Furman overall with a 44.4 percent mark (28-of-63) to Furman's 36.8 percent (25-of-68), but the Paladins were better from three at a 35.0 percent clip (7-of-20) to the 18.8 percent (3-of-16) of the Terriers. Despite Furman holding a 20-rebound advantage, 52-32, Wofford utilized the turnover battle yet again to claim the edge. The Terriers forced 19 turnovers while committing only seven, claiming 20 points off the Paladin errors and holding them to only three off Wofford's miscues. Wofford also utilized the paint, going inside for 42 points, tying the team's single-game high this season.
 
"We felt like our guards were able to get in the paint and kick, as well as getting an offensive board and put-back or getting fouled," said Jackie Carman of the paint scoring. "Going in with that gameplan, and we were able to execute it, so I think we did a great job."
 
The Terriers were led by three players in double-digits, including two in double figures. Jackie Carman and Rachael Rose each scored 22, marking a second-straight outing with at least 20 points each for the pair. Carman added three rebounds and two steals in her seventh 20-point outing of the campaign.
 
Rose dished a career-high eight assists to lead the team. She added six boards and four steals. This is the sophomore's sixth 20-ball of the season and her ninth consecutive game scoring double-digits.
 
"I always say my favorite part of playing basketball is creating for others and watching my teammates get really excited for when they score and just setting them up for easy baskets," said Rose of her career-best helpers. "So that's the most exciting part of basketball for me."
 
Jessie Parish netted 10 points to join the double-digit club. She knocked down two of Wofford's threes, both in the first half, while also securing two rebounds.
 
"I just told her in the locker room that I am so incredibly proud of her," said Rose of Parish's performance. "She never knows when she's going to get her name called or if she'll get in games, but she's always ready, and I'm so happy for her, and I really hope she enjoys this win."
 
Annabelle Schultz added five points and five steals, her second game with at least five swipes both this season and in her career. Lilly Hatton secured four points and grabbed five rebounds.
 
Helen Matthews, Abbey Crawford and Sydnee Richetto each scored two points. Matthews led the team with eight rebounds and also notched two blocks. Crawford added a board as well.
 
Furman opened the contest with the first five points before Rachael Rose put Wofford on the board with a paint score at the 8:40 mark. The Terriers utilized a six-point run to pull ahead by one (11-10) at the 4:55 mark. The squads traded blows and the lead a couple times from there before a Furman three with 1:38 to go had the Paladins on top again. But a Jessie Parish three in response gave Wofford the lead right back just 18 seconds later. However, a Furman layup with 44 seconds remaining tied the score at 20 all, where it would stay at the conclusion of the quarter.
 
Furman pulled ahead and held a 28-24 advantage with 5:28 remaining, but a nine-point run swung the lead back in Wofford's favor. Punctuated by a Jessie Parish three and layup, the Terriers claimed a 33-28 lead with 3:40 remaining. The squads traded blows from there, with Furman keeping it close. A Paladin bucket in the final minute made the margin five points, 39-34, entering halftime.
 
The Paladins opened the second half with a seven-point run to claim a 41-39 lead at the 7:59 mark. But Anabelle Schultz swiped a steal, and Rachael Rose put the bucket home to spark a 10-point Terrier run that flipped the lead back to Wofford at 49-41 with 2:49 remaining. Furman scored a pair of baskets, but Wofford scored five straight to end the quarter and carry a 54-45 lead into the final frame.
 
The squads opened the fourth quarter trading scores until an eight-point Paladin run put Furman back in front, 62-61, with 4:52 to go. But Rachael Rose scored back-to-back baskets, and Jackie Carman followed with a deep trey that flipped Wofford back in front, 68-62, with 2:01 to go. The Terriers carried a four-point lead into the final minute, but Wofford struggled at the free throw line to allow Furman to pull within three, 69-66, with 13 seconds the go. When a pair of Terrier free throws could not fall, the Paladins ran down the court and put up their final attempt in the closing seconds with the hopes of overtime. But the Wofford defense remained steadfast, not allowing Furman a good look and forcing the shot to miss the mark, sealing Wofford's 69-66 road win.
 
"It just shows the confidence we have in one another and how we're going to stay together through adversity at all times, both offensively and defensively," said Carman of the defensive pressure to seal the win late.
 
After three consecutive road games, the Terriers finally return home to the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium next Thursday, Feb. 9 for a match-up with UNCG. Tip-off against the Spartans is set for 7:00 p.m. before Wofford welcomes Western Carolina to town two days later.