SPARTANBURG, S.C. – Down by 10 at halftime, the Wofford women's basketball team refused to relent and came back to best Mercer 65-64 Saturday night in Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium. Molly Masingale's clutch free throws in the closing seconds pushed Wofford over the edge before a stifling defensive stop sealed the win. Wofford improves to 16-9 (8-4 SoCon) as Mercer drops to 7-20 (2-10 SoCon).
 
The contest was senior night for the Terriers, who honored senior captains Helen Matthews and Rachael Rose pregame.

"We talked early on all week about playing for them (the seniors)," said head coach Jimmy Garrity. "Especially today, their last home contest, and it breaks my heart that neither one of them could get out there and play because they wanted to play more than anything. Before the game the message was just lay it on the line and do whatever we have to do to get them a win. That first half we were almost trying too hard. Down by 10 at the half, we never gave up, and we kept being great teammates to one another. We hit a couple shots, and that got us going. I'm unbelievably proud."
 
Both teams shot over 40 percent on the night with Mercer at 42.4 percent (25-of-59) and Wofford hitting at a 40.6 percent clip (26-of-64). The Terriers hit one more three, 4-3. Mercer held a slight rebounding edge, 38-36, but the Terriers forced two more turnovers, 10-8. Seven of those turned into steals, leading to 12 fast break points.
 
Evangelia Paulk paced Wofford with 19 points. She followed her triple-double performance with six rebounds, four steals, and one block. Paulk now owns at least three steals in five consecutive games.
 
"It was just all for my team; it was for our seniors," said Paulk. "It's so important to us, and especially to Wofford, to send them out the right way. So that was our mentality."
 
Maddie Heiss joined her in double figures with 13 points. She added four boards and three assists. It was a balanced night as three others were within two points of double-digits. Libby Privett scored nine with a pair of assists. Mia Flor netted eight points with two rebounds. Toni Warren also tallied eight points, adding seven rebounds. Molly Masingale recorded six points with nine boards and a team-high five assists. Queen Ikhiuwu posted two points with a block and two rebounds.
 
"I just think we are so together, and the belief we have on this team in one another is so special," said Heiss. "That really just pushed us through for the win. It shows our togetherness"
 
Mercer opened with the first five points of the game, but a three by Evangelia Paulk got Wofford on the board. The Bears kept pushing, pulling ahead 13-4, but the Terriers pushed back with a Libby Privett layup and Toni Warren bucket. A Mercer scored was followed by a Privett and-one, and Molly Masingale's steal led to a Warren bucket. Mercer closed the quarter with a score, leading 17-13.
 
The Bears scored first in the second, but Paulk responded with her own layup. After a Bear bucket Paulk recorded a steal and score, which turned into a three-point play. After Mia Flor put home two at the stripe, the Bears followed with an 11-point run. However, Wofford recorded four of the half's final six points, trailing 34-24 at the break.
 
Paulk opened the second half with a three-point play, but Mercer scored the next five. However, the Terriers had their own run in response with the next nine points. Privett's layup opened the run, and Maddie Heiss put home a jumper. Paulk buried a three, and Heiss converted again to cap it. A Mercer scored was followed by a Masingale trey. Mercer notched nine of the next 11 points, but Wofford closed the quarter with five-straight points to stay within six points of Mercer, 52-46.
 
The Terriers kept pushing to open the fourth as Maddie Heiss knocked in a three and followed with a jumper to pull Wofford within one. Mercer scored to try to keep pace, but the momentum had firmly swung in Wofford's favor. Warren recorded a put-back score, and Flore got to work down low with back-to-back layups as the Terriers pulled ahead by three. A Mercer scored was followed by back-to-back buckets from Warren and Heiss. However, the Bears found a rhythm and scored eight in a row, pulling back in front, 64-61, with 1:04 on the clock. Heiss scored with 44 seconds left to bring Wofford within one. The Bears were fouled and went to the stripe with 19 seconds to go, and the shooter missed both. Paulk secured the board, and Masingale drove the lane and drew a foul on the ensuing possession. Coming up clutch, the freshman buried both shots to push Wofford in front by a point with seven seconds to go. Stifling defense on the other end sealed the 65-64 comeback victory.
 
"The coaches say all the time, 'Just trust the process,'" said Masingale of her clutch free throws. "So all of us are in the gym every day. I shoot free throws multiple times every single day, so I was just trusting in my ability and helping the team."
 
The Terriers will hit the road next week for their final two games of the regular season. Wofford first travels to Johnson City, Tennessee, on Thursday, February 27, for a match-up with ETSU. Tip-off is set for 7:00 p.m. Two days later, Wofford will face Chattanooga to conclude the regular season.