Women’s Basketball Drops Nail-Biter to UNCG

Women’s Basketball Drops Nail-Biter to UNCG | https://woffordterriers.com/

By Press release submission

Feb 10, 2023

Women’s Basketball Drops Nail-Biter to UNCG

The Wofford women's basketball team returned home to Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium Thursday night for the first time in two weeks in a contest that went down to the wire against UNCG, but the Spartans held on late to earn a 68-64 win over the Terriers. Wofford falls to 16-7 (6-3 SoCon) with the result, and UNCG improves to 11-13 (4-6 SoCon).

The Terriers shot 33.3 percent (20-of-60), a mark that the Spartans topped with 37.5 percent (24-of-64). But Wofford tallied twice as many three-pointers, making six against UNCG's three. But UNCG used its size, winning the rebounding battle 38-33, notably grabbing 15 offensive boards. This led to 14 second chance points for the Spartans. Wofford continued to protect the ball, committing nine turnovers, the 11th game with single-digit giveaways by the Terriers. Forcing 11 turnovers, the issue for Wofford was an inability to capitalize, as the Spartans won the points off turnovers battle, 7-4.

The game was a battle the whole way, with neither side able to hold a lead larger than six points. The match-up saw 11 ties and 14 lead changes throughout the 40 minutes of action.

Wofford was led by three players in double-digits, paced by Rachael Rose with 19 points. This was her 10th game in a row scoring in double figures. She added seven boards to tie for the team lead.

Indiya Clarke started for the second time in her young career, and the freshman poured in a career-high 13 points to take advantage of the opportunity. Her six boards matched her career best, and she swatted a block.

Annabelle Schultz netted 12 points and also grabbed six rebounds. Jackie Carman scored nine points to just miss out on double-digits. With three assists and two steals, she led the squad in both categories.

Lilly Hatton tied for the rebounding lead with seven, and she scored eight points. Ja'Rae Smith and Sydnee Richetto round out Wofford's scoring with two and one, respectively. Jessie Parish contributed a block and three rebounds.

UNCG won the tip and scored first, opening the contest with a 6-5 lead before Indiya Clarke went inside and put Wofford ahead at the 4:33 mark. The Spartans would fight back to pull level before Lilly Hatton broke the tie, setting Wofford up to lead after a quarter, 14-13.

Hatton opened the second quarter with a three-ball, and Annabelle Schulz drilled one of her own shortly thereafter to give Wofford a five-point lead (22-17) with 8:07 to go. But the see-saw tilt continued with the sides trading blows until Sydnee Richetto made a free throw with 40 seconds left to even the score at 31 all. However, the Spartans scored nine seconds later to claim a lead that they would carry into halftime, 33-31.

Rachael Rose came out of the break on a mission, scoring Wofford's first nine points of the half. These came by way of two treys and a three-point play, which helped Wofford hold a 40-38 lead at the 6:28 mark. The squads went back-and-forth some more until a six-point Terrier run swung the lead to 46-42 in Wofford's favor at the 3:56 mark. UNCG would stay on Wofford's heels, but Annabelle Schultz converted a pair of foul shots in the final seconds of the frame to make the score 52-48 entering the fourth.

UNCG would score the quarter's first four points to tie the affair, but Indiya Clarke scored to get Wofford back up. The Spartans kept chipping away until a six-point run switched the advantage in UNCG's favor, 64-61, with 2:37 to play. Rachael Rose made a pair of foul shots soon after to pull Wofford within one point, but two missed shots and a turnover over the next minute-and-a-half would do Wofford in. The Spartans hit their free throws in the final minute, and Wofford was unable to get a late push to come together as the Terriers fell, 68-64.

Wofford remains home on Saturday to host Western Carolina. Tip-off is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. inside the Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium. The contest is Wofford's pink game with a t-shirt giveaway for fans, while supplies last.