SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford women's basketball team played its first game in 11 days Saturday night and used a strong shooting effort to record a 71-63 victory over the Appalachian State Mountaineers in the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium. The Terriers improve to 6-2 with the win as the Mountaineers drop to 3-5.
Wofford shot a strong 45.3 percent (24-of-53) on the night with a 50 percent or better mark in each of the first three quarters. App State shot 42.5 percent (33-of-53), but the Terriers secured nine three-pointers to the five of the Mountaineers. Wofford won the rebounding battle, 32-24. App State put forth most of its points in the paint with 38. Despite the turnover margin being just one, App State's 16 to Wofford's 15, the Terriers took advantage at a higher rate. Wofford secured 20 points off turnovers while limiting App State to 10.
Four Terriers scored in double figures, led by a pair with 13.
Rachael Rose made her return to the court after last playing on opening night. In 31 minutes of action, Rose picked up where she left off, posting a 6-of-12 shooting mark while contributing a team-high seven assists with five boards.
Helen Matthews added a block and three rebounds to her point total.
Maddie Heiss and
Queen Ikhiuwu each added 12 points with Ikhiuwu's tally a new career high. She was a perfect 5-of-5 on the night with four rebounds.
Libby Privett posted six points, and
Evangelia Paulk added five with a team-leading 10 rebounds.
Molly Masingale swiped a pair of steals to go with four points.
App State scored the opening points, but
Helen Matthews promptly tied the contest with a layup.
Maddie Heiss and
Rachael Rose each added buckets before
Evangelia Paulk converted a pair at the charity stripe for a quick 8-3 lead. The Mountaineers then pushed back to pull ahead at 12-8, but a Heiss triple pulled Wofford within a point. After a Mountaineer layup,
Libby Privett hit a three of her own to tie the game at 14. Heiss and
Queen Ikhiuwu would close the quarter with scores, but each was matched by a Mountaineer. The teams ended the first quarter deadlocked at 18.
Wofford opened the second frame on the gas pedal. Matthews buried a three 34 seconds in, and though it was followed by an App State bucket, Paulk hit her own shot from distance. Rose notched a steal, and the Terriers embarked on a 13-point run that spanned nearly five minutes of action. Matthews capped the run with a three, and App State's three at the 4:07 mark ended the run with Wofford still leading 34-23. Despite App State's eight-point swing, Wofford concluded the half with
Molly Masingale taking charge. After a jumper, she swiped a steal and took it coast-to-coast for the score and a 38-28 lead at the break.
The teams traded blows out of the break, but Ikhiuwu netted her first-career three for a 12-point advantage, 45-33, at the 5:31 mark. But a nine-point run by App State cut the margin to 46-42. Matthews hit another three to create a little separation, but a three-point swing at the free throw line for the Mountaineers to conclude the quarter made the margin 52-49 going into the final stanza.
App State opened the fourth quarter with a score to pull within a point, but the returning Rose took charge for four-straight points, the latter bucket aided by a Masingale steal. However, the Mountaineers continued to push and came within one again at 57-56 with four minutes remaining. Rose notched a three, and she went inside after a pair of Heiss free throws. Wofford led 64-58 with 1:39 remaining. The Mountaineers tallied a pair of free throws, but Rose struck again with a paint score. With 50 seconds remaining, App State hit a three to pull within three, 66-63. Matthews was sent to line and converted both shots, and with a missed three in response, App State had to start playing the foul game for the final 30 seconds.
Indiya Clarke was the benefactor, converting three tries to ice the contest 71-63 for Wofford.
After a break next week for exams, Wofford will return to the court on Wednesday, December 18, for a trip to Durham, North Carolina. The Terriers will battle the Duke Blue Devils at 7:00 p.m. in Cameron Indoor Stadium in the first of three-straight road affairs to end December.
