CULLOWHEE, N.C. – The Wofford women's basketball team jumped out quick with three-straight three-pointers by Annabelle Schultz and never looked back Saturday afternoon at the Ramsey Center en route to a 75-56 triumph over Western Carolina. The Terriers improve to 9-7 (1-1 SoCon) with the Catamounts falling to 5-12 (0-2 SoCon).
 
"I was really happy and proud with the way we responded after losing on the road to a very good UNCG team," said head coach Jimmy Garrity. "Western Carolina's very good, and they're well coached. I just felt like we came in here with a totally different mindset. We were calm throughout the whole game. We played well together. We got off to a good start – [Schultz] hit her first three threes, and that really got us going. But our defensive effort – they run some really challenging stuff to guard, and I though defensively we were really good of holding them."
 
Wofford was firing on all cylinders offensively, shooting 45.8 percent with a 50 percent clip from beyond the arc for 12 total threes. The Terrier defense was stout, too, holding Western Carolina to 35.8 percent and just 19 percent from three. Wofford forced 17 Catamount turnovers which turned into 21 extra points. The Terriers also swatted four blocks while avoiding taking a single block in the game.
 
"It's good to have that game. I think we felt good coming into the game about our shot, but to see the first few go in, we obviously gained a lot of confidence from that," said Garrity of the offensive efforts today.
 
Rachael Rose led the way for Wofford with a career-high 33 points on 12-of-17 shooting. She was also 4-of-7 from three and a perfect 5-of-5 at the charity stripe. She tallied a team-high six assists while also securing six boards and two steals.
 
"It just came from my teammates," said Rose of her career day. "The way Annabelle started, getting us going and giving us all confidence. And this is a great team win for us, all in all."
 
Annabelle Schultz recorded 17 total points behind five three-pointers to match her career best. She opened the game with Wofford's first nine points, all beyond the arc. Schultz led the team defensively with three steals.
 
"It was all from my teammates," said Schultz of her performance. "They give me the confidence every day in practice, and it starts then. I came out here and hit my first one, and they did everything they can to try to get me the ball back. So all the credit goes to them."
 
Maddie Heiss joined them in double figures with 11 points. Heiss added an assist and rebound with a steal. Indiya Clarke had nine points and a team-leading 10 rebounds to fall just short of a double-double. She added in a block.
 
Evangelia Paulk recorded three points and knocked away a career-high three blocks in the game. She added in a pair of steals with seven rebounds. Vitolia Tuilave rounds out Wofford's scoring with two points, adding in three boards. Though scoreless, Ja'Rae Smith recorded a pair of rebounds with an assist and a steal.
 
Wofford won the opening tip, but it took just over a minute for the first bucket to fall when Annabelle Schultz drained a three-pointer. She would then knock down her next two attempts from distance, as her third-straight triple forced Western Carolina into an early timeout with 7:33 on the clock and the Terriers up 9-0. Though the Catamounts broke the run with their own three, Maddie Heiss buried one of her own in response. Evangelia Paulk added a trey herself at the 5:28 mark, and despite a small WCU run, Schultz again hit from deep late in the quarter. Her fourth three, Wofford's sixth, of the first quarter gave the Terriers a 24-14 advantage after 10 minutes of play. Those 24 points are Wofford's most in an opening quarter this season.
 
The momentum carried into the second quarter, as Rachael Rose knocked down a triple just a minute into the frame. Indiya Clarke would convert inside, and Rose followed the same way before another Annabelle Schultz trey after an Evangelia Paulk block made Wofford's lead 34-16 with 5:34 to go. The Catamounts began an attempt to chip away, but Rose connected from deep to quell the run. The Catamounts would score, but Wofford then claimed the final eight points of the half, highlighted by Schultz scooping a steal and converting in transition before Rose's layup in the final 15 seconds. Wofford led 45-22 at the break.
 
Maddie Heiss kept Wofford's foot on the gas pedal out of halftime with a jumper just 45 seconds in. The teams traded some blows with Western Carolina hitting a three at about the halfway point of the quarter. But Indiya Clarke got to work, putting home a layup before Maddie Heiss swiped a steal that led to a Clarke trey. The Catamounts secured some points to cut their deficit to 25 (60-35) with 1:38 remaining, but it was Rachael Rose who took charge to conclude the quarter. She drilled a three before converting inside and drawing a foul in the process, hitting at the line for an old-fashioned three. The Catamounts would get three back to end the quarter, but Wofford led 66-38.
 
Rachael Rose continued her hot streak to begin the fourth quarter, hitting a three just 38 seconds in. She then immediately snatched a steal and turned it into a layup. Later, Rose would go to the line for a pair of free throws, and with her makes she secured her new career high of 33 points. The Catamounts claimed the game's final 12 points, but it was too little, too late with the score already out of reach. The Terriers powered away to a 75-56 triumph.
 
Wofford will get a week off before returning to action next Saturday, January 20. The Terriers will welcome the rival Furman Paladins to Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium for Wofford's home conference opener. Tip-off is set for 2:00 p.m. with the contest also streaming on ESPN+.
 
"Tomorrow's definitely a rest day; we've got to rest our bodies. But after that we're totally locked in on Furman and looking to get that win," said Rose of the upcoming match-up.