SPARTANBURG, S.C. – The Wofford women's basketball team toughed out a back-and-forth victory 75-64 over the ETSU Buccaneers in Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium Thursday night thanks in large part to a stout free throw shooting effort. The Terriers improve to 16-11 (8-5 SoCon) with the Bucs dropping to 18-10 (7-6 SoCon).
 
Wofford shot slightly better in the contest, 49 percent to the 43 percent clip of ETSU. Both teams hit seven threes, but the charity stripe provided the biggest difference. The Bucs were 7-of-10 at the free throw line, and the Terriers were 18-of-21, knocking down 11 more free throws in a game that finished with an 11-point margin. Ball security was also important in the contest as Wofford held 12 turnovers to 13 assists, and ETSU tallied 15 giveaways to 12 assists. Though ETSU won the rebounding battle 32-30, Wofford closed the gap in the second half. The Bucs led 20-15 in rebounding at halftime, but in the second half it was the Terriers who had more rebounds, 15-12.
 
The Terriers displayed a balanced scoring effort with four players in double figures, led by Rachael Rose with her 25 points. She stretched her double-digit scoring streak to 46 games and her 20-point streak to 10 in a row. Rose just missed a double-double with eight rebounds while adding four assists and three steals.
 
In her second-straight start, Indiya Clarke put forth 15 points on 6-of-9 shooting with four boards and a pair of assists. Annabelle Schultz added 12 points via four three-pointers while tallying six rebounds and a steal. Maddie Heiss rounds out the double-digit performers with 11 points while securing two rebounds and dishing a career-high four assists with a block.
 
Sara Deidda added seven points, and Evangelia Paulk recorded five points to round out Wofford's scoring. She added two boards and an assist. Vitolia Tuilave added one of Wofford's two blocks, and Ja'Rae Smith added a pair of rebounds.
 
Wofford opened the game on the gas pedal, scoring the first five points thanks to a Rachael Rose and-one and a pair of Indiya Clarke free throws. But ETSU would begin to respond and push back, and the first quarter saw both teams trading blows with Wofford staying a touch ahead. Evangelia Paulk free throws late made the margin five points, but a late Buc three cut the margin to two, 18-12, after 10 minutes of action.
 
Annabelle Schultz opened the second quarter with a three before ETSU continued to keep it close. With the teams jostling throughout the quarter, Wofford stayed again a touch ahead and found some late momentum. A Rose bucker led to a Sara Deidda paint score before Rose again converted inside. The six-straight points pushed Wofford ahead by 10, but ETSU would hit a three in response. Rose again converted, but her score was matched in the closing seconds. Wofford led 36-29 entering halftime.
 
Indiya Clarke scored Wofford's first two buckets of the second half, but an ETSU score was wedged in between. After the team's traded threes, Wofford's by Schultz, ETSU hit a groove. The Bucs scored nine points in a row to tie the game at 43, but Maddie Heiss pushed Wofford back ahead by two. ETSU tied it again, but Clarke buried a trey before a four-point Buc run gave them a one-point edge. Schultz drained a three to continue the see-saw affair, but a jumper retied the game. Wofford closed the quarter on the right foot with a Clarke layup and Deidda triple, but ETSU hit the final shot, a three, to keep the margin at two points, 56-54, in favor of the Terriers.
 
ETSU opened the final frame with a tying layup, but 24 seconds later Schultz connected from distance to give Wofford back the lead, and it did not relent from there. It was not without a fight, however, as ETSU pulled within three points twice more. But each time, Rachael Rose had a response, first with a three and then with a two-point score. ETSU scored a free throw with 2:14 on the clock to pull within four, 68-64, but the Bucs would not net another point from there. Heiss connected on a paint bucket, and with the Wofford defense clamping down, ETSU had to start fouling. Wofford connected on five of its six foul shots in the final minute to ice the game and the 75-64 triumph.
 
Wofford will conclude the regular season in two days by welcoming Chattanooga to Spartanburg. The finale is also senior day for the Terriers, who will honor guards Ja'Rae Smith and Annabelle Schultz and student manager Lauren Scalise pregame. Tip-off against the Mocs is set for 2:00 p.m. in Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium.