DURHAM, N.C. – The Wofford women's basketball team hit the road for the first time this season and earned a resounding 75-56 triumph over North Carolina Central Saturday afternoon in McDougald-McLendon Arena. Wofford improves to 2-0 on the young season as NC Central falls to 0-3.
 
Wofford well outshot NC Central, posting a 48.1 percent mark (25-of-52) while holding the Eagles to a 33.3 clip (18-of-54). However, NC Central shot the three better, knocking down eight to the four of the Terriers. The Terrier defense was a driving force in the win, as Wofford forced 18 Eagle turnovers for 13 extra points and 12 via the fast break. Wofford outrebounded NC Central 40-27 with 12 offensive boards for 10 second-chance points. The Terriers dominated the paint with 34 points down low, and they allowed only eight to NC Central inside.
 
"I was really proud of our effort today against a tough, physical, well-coached (NC) Central team," said head coach Jimmy Garrity. "McDougald-McLendon Arena has always been a tough place to play. To go on the road and play well is exciting. I thought we followed the scouting report and defended them really well. We did a fantastic job on the boards, which led to us being able to play in transition, and that's when we are at our best. Everyone contributed to this road win. It was a really good team win for us."
 
Maddie Heiss led the offense with 16 points as one of three Terriers to score in double-digits. She added four boards and a steal. Helen Matthews scored 15 points, 12 of which came in the first half. She also contributed four rebounds. Molly Masingale knocked down two three-pointers on her way to 10 points, the first time the freshman has reached double figures. She tied for the team lead with three assists.
 
Libby Privett just missed double figures with nine points while adding a pair of boards and two assists. Mia Flor scored eight points, and Evangelia Paulk posted six. Flor tied Masingale for the assist lead with three, a career high for her. Paulk swiped three steals, as did Matthews. Paulk led the rebounding efforts with seven. Queen Ikhiuwu secured a career-high six boards to fall just behind.
 
NC Central opened with the game's first four points, but Wofford struck back quickly. Mia Flor scored a layup, and Maddie Heiss tied the game before Helen Matthews went inside to push Wofford in front. The Terriers would not relinquish that lead. Libby Privett buried a three just past the halfway point of the quarter for an 11-6 Wofford lead. Wofford's last six points of the frame all came at the charity stripe with Privett, Matthews and Sara Deidda all knocking down their two shots. Deidda's concluded the quarter with Wofford up 17-10.
 
Helen Matthews opened the second quarter with a layup. NC Central followed with a three, but Molly Masingale responded with one of her own, sparking an 11-point Terrier run. Matthews capped the run with back-to-back scores off turnovers to push Wofford up 17 points, 30-13. Maddie Heiss hit a three late in the quarter, but the Eagles scored nine of the final 12 points in the frame to make the halftime margin 33-22 in favor of the Terriers.
 
Matthews scored Wofford's first points of the second half, getting fouled on her layup. She converted the shot for the and-one play and a 36-23 lead. NC Central began to chip away, shaving the margin to seven points at 38-31 with a free throw. Privett hit a layup to keep Wofford in front, but the Eagles pulled back within six after some free throws. However, Privett notched a steal and fed to Masingale for the paint score, and Heiss and Indiya Clarke both posted layups afterward. Privett buried a jumper to end the quarter, marking eight-straight Terrier points to lead into the fourth with Wofford ahead 48-34.
 
Wofford hit four free throws early in the fourth quarter, and Mia Flor buried a score inside for a 16-point lead, 54-38. NC Central posted two three-point scores, but each was followed by a Terrier layup, first Heiss and then Flor. NC Central's comeback hopes faltered from there, as Heiss went inside against before Masingale netted a three-ball. Paulk capped the nine-point run with Wofford in front by 24 points, 72-48, with three minutes remaining. The Terriers held firm from there, closing out a 75-56 road win over NC Central.
 
Wofford continues its three-game road stint next week with a trip to Lexington, Kentucky. The Terriers will face the University of Kentucky on Tuesday, November 12, at 6:00 p.m. The contest will be streamed on SEC Network +.