CULLOWHEE, N.C. – Despite Western Carolina's second-half comeback push, the Wofford women's basketball team held firm late and trusted the veteran Helen Matthews, who put home a layup with one second left to seal the 70-68 victory Thursday night. The road win in the Ramsey Center lifts the Terriers to 15-7 (7-2 SoCon) as the Catamounts fall to 11-14 (1-9 SoCon).
 
"We were in this similar situation in the past," said head coach Jimmy Garrity. "To pull it out, I thought down the stretch even though we turned the ball over a couple times, we knew what we had to do. There was never any panic. I'll give Western [Carolina] more credit to make that big comeback. Because I thought we guarded the ball and guarded on defense very well."
 
Matthews's last-second winner is the first winner in the closing two seconds for Wofford since Rachael Rose put home the victorious runner to best Virginia with 0.4 left last season on December 16, 2023. The win makes Matthews the winningest player in program history, as the fifth-year senior has been a part of 84 Terrier triumphs, topping Jackie Carman's prior mark of 83.
 
"We had multiple looks on that play, and coach [Garrity] said, 'If nothing's open then go and get the handoff,'" said Matthews of her winner. "I'm just blessed to be trusted with that shot, and I know I trust any of my teammates with that shot. So I was able to make the play today, and walking out with a win is always good."
 
Wofford outshot Western Carolina on the night with a 48.0 percent mark (24-of-50) to the 43.1 percent clip (22-of-51) of the Catamounts. However, WCU was better from three at 46.2 percent (6-of-13) compared to Wofford's 35.3 percent mark (6-of-17). Free throw shooting proved pivotal as Wofford missed just one foul shot, going 16-of-17, whereas the Catamounts missed six of their 24 opportunities. WCU won the glass, 31-28, but Wofford dished three more helpers, 13-10.
 
Molly Masingale led the scoring efforts with 18 points, burying four of her seven three-point shots. Masingale added three rebounds. Helen Matthews and Evangelia Paulk mark a trio in double figures with 16 points each. Matthews was 6-of-8 from the floor with eight boards, three assists, and two steals. Paulk also stuffed the stat sheet, adding eight rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks. This is Paulk's 12^th game of three-plus swipes this season as her total grows to 70. Libby Privett contributed eight points with Mia Flor adding six.
 
"I just knew I had to do whatever I had to do to help my teammates win," said Masingale. "I just played my role to the best of my ability, and I'm thankful that my teammates trusted me to help contribute to the win."
 
Wofford started the game off hot, putting home the first nine points of the contest, punctuated by a three from Evangelia Paulk. WCU broke through with a layup, but Molly Masingale knocked down a triple in response. The Catamounts would come alive and push back to pull within two with under a minute to go, but a pair of free throw conversions by Helen Matthews closed the quarter with the Terriers leading 18-14.
 
The Terriers kept the momentum going to begin the second quarter, putting home three-straight layups for a 10-point advantage, 24-14. The Wofford defense remained stifling, holding WCU without a field goal until the 5:09 mark. Otherwise, the Catamounts put home just four free throws prior. The Terriers put home seven more points from the floor before that, punctuated by a Masingale trey. A Paulk layup at the 1:03 mark pushed the Terriers ahead by 16, their largest lead of the night. The Catamounts put in the final four points of the half, but Wofford led 37-25 at the break.
 
WCU opened the third quarter with the first three points, but a Matthews triple nixed that. The teams traded threes before the Catamounts hit a rhythm from deep. Back-to-back deep balls set up a steal and score to pull the Catamounts within four. A layup and Masingale three created some breathing room, and late free throw conversions helped Wofford remain ahead 52-41 entering the final frame.
 
Looking to complete the comeback, the Catamounts opened the fourth with a three-point play. A Masingale jumper was followed by a Matthews swipe and score, pushing the lead back out to 12. However, WCU remained resilient and kept chipping away, pulling within five at the 5:38 mark. A Libby Privett layup was followed by a WCU three, sparking an eight-point Catamount run that pushed them ahead 63-62 with 3:15 on the clock. WCU's first lead of the night did not last long as Matthews secured an and-one play at the 2:47 mark to put Wofford back in front 65-63. After trading some free throws, the teams entered the final minute with Wofford up by three. A late and-one for the Catamounts tied the game at 68-68 with eight seconds to go. A Wofford timeout advanced the ball, and the Terriers got to work on the inbound. The ball found its way into the hands of fifth-year captain Helen Mattews, who saw an opportunity to drive and took it. Putting up a strong layup, she finished at the rim with just 1.1 showing on the clock, and the ensuing inbound was snuffed out to secure the 70-68 thrilling victory for Wofford.
 
The Terriers remain on the road Saturday with a trip to Greensboro, North Carolina, to face UNCG. Tip-off in Fleming Gymnasium is set for 2:00 p.m. against the conference leader.