Wofford 58, UNC
Asheville 54
ASHEVILLE, N.C. – Wofford women’s basketball used a stout
defensive effort in the second half as the Terriers rallied from down six at
the half to claim a 58-54 win over UNC Asheville Thursday night in the Kimmel
Arena.
Wofford (2-1) limited the Bulldogs to 19 second half points
led by a Terrier defense that force 15 second half turnovers and 26 total in
the game.
The Terriers shot 36 percent from the floor and 53 percent
from behind the arc, while the UNC Asheville shot 37 percent overall and
31percent from three.
Trailing 7-2, Wofford went on an 8-0 run take a 10-7 lead on
a three by Chanel Stokes with just less than 14 minutes to play. UNC Asheville retook the lead 11-10 with four
points from Gentry Manley a minute later.
Wofford used a free throw from Jordon Frazier and a three from Rachel
Brittenham retake the lead 14-11 with 11:40 showing on the clock.
The Bulldogs tied the game at 14 with an old fashion
three-point play from Kelli Riles, but Wofford used a Motley basket in the
paint and a Brittenham three sandwiched around a three from Grace Blaylock to
take a 19-17 lead with nine and a half minutes to play in the half.
The Terriers took the lead out to 24-19 as they forced three
Bulldog turnovers including two shot clock violations, only to see the Bulldogs
cut the lead down to one point, 24-23, on a Leah Womack basket. Wofford answered with a three from
Brittenham, her third of the half, to push the lead back to four points, 27-23,
with just over four minutes to play.
UNC Asheville answered with a 10-0 run highlighted by threes
from Shonese Jones and Jeannie Buckner to take a 33-27 lead with 1:35 remaining
in the half. Neither would score as the
Bulldogs took the six point lead, 33-27, into the half. Wofford was held scoreless over the last 4:05
of the first half.
Wofford came out of half and used a three-point play by
Michelle Merritt, a fast break layup by Logan Morris and two free throws by
Wrightson to pull within three points, 37-34 with 17:43 left in the game. Merritt scored four more points to give the
Terriers a 40-39 lead with 15 minutes on the clock.
Merritt’s points sparked an 8-0 run as Wofford pulled out to
a 42-39 lead with 12:11 on the clock.
Riles got a rebound and a basket with 11:36 to pull within one point,
42-41. The basket ended an almost
four-minutes scoring drought for the Bulldogs.
Wofford extended the lead out to six points, 47-41,
following a Chanel Stokes jumper and Morris three from the wing with less than
ten minutes to play. UNC Asheville went
on a 5-0 run to cut the lead to one point, but Wofford answered back with a 4-0
run to take a 51-46 lead on a Morris jumper at the five-minute mark.
Baskets by Abra Sickles and Gentry Manly cut the Wofford
lead down to 51-50, but an Wrightson offensive rebound and layup and a Morris
corner three extended the lead back to six points, 56-50, with 1:10 remaining.
Following a basket by UNC Asheville Brittenham iced the game
with two free throws with nine seconds on the clock to give Wofford the 58-54
come from behind win.
Wrightson led the Terriers with 16 points, while Brittenham
chipped in 11 points and five assists.
Morris added ten points, all in the second half. Daniella Motley collected 11 rebounds.
With her five assists, Brittenham now has 384 career
assists, three shy of second place and current assistant coach Jessica Ridgill
at 387.
Riles paced the Bulldogs with 13 points and 20 rebounds to
earn a double-double. Jones added 11 points and three assists in the game.
The Terriers open their home schedule on November 24 at 2
p.m. against Kennesaw State for their next game.