SPARTANBURG, S.C. (Wofford Athletics) – One day later than originally scheduled after winter weather hit Spartanburg, the Wofford women’s basketball team hit the hardwood inside Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium Sunday afternoon against the rival Furman Paladins to open Southern Conference action. With hot three-point shooting, the Terriers topped the Paladins 68-51 and improved to 9-5 (1-0 SoCon). Furman dropped to 10-7 (0-1 SoCon).
“This league is so balanced and talented, so you’re going to have to win your home games,” said head coach Jimmy Garrity of the conference-opening win. “To have our first one against Furman, who’s a really good team, I thought we played outstanding. Our defensive effort was right on point… I really thought the winner of the rebounding battle was going to win the game. For us to get 40 to their 32, and they’re the No. 1 rebounding team in the league. I felt like we shared the ball well, boxed out and went to go get it, and then on the offensive end to have 13 offensive rebounds is pretty impressive.”
The Terriers shot at a 39.3 percent clip (24-of-61) with Furman shooting 33.3 percent (18-of-54), but the three-point line proved pivotal as Wofford buried 14 triples at a 48.3 percent mark. Meanwhile, Furman was held to only four makes from deep at a 26.7 percent clip. Furman entered the contest top two in the conference in rebounding and assists, but the Terriers bested the Paladins in both marks. The Terriers won the glass 40-32 with 13 offensive boards for 16 second chance points. Wofford added 17 assists to best Furman’s nine, and the Terriers issued four blocks to just the one of the Paladins.
The three-point efforts fell just short of the program record this afternoon, which the Terriers matched earlier this season by knocking down 15 against Erskine.
“I’m just so proud of everyone,” said Evangelia Paulk of the three-point success. “Everyone showed up to practice and focused on our shooting. It hasn’t been great the past couple of games, so everyone’s been in the gym doing this in the off time.”
Evangelia Paulk paced the Terriers with 18 points and 11 rebounds for her second double-double of the campaign and the seventh of her career. She was one of three Terriers to hit at least three three-pointers, knocking down three of her five shots from deep. Paulk added a pair of steals to lift her season total to 50, and she was one of four Terriers with a block.
Helen Matthews posted 16 points with four made triples, a career high. She added five boards, three assists, and three steals. Molly Masingale rounded out the trio in double figures with 13 points. The freshman put home four shots beyond the arc, and she secured four boards. Masingale added a block and two assists.
Maddie Heiss netted a pair of threes with eight total points. She dished five helpers to lead the team, a new career best. Mia Flor contributed six points with four rebounds and a block. Queen Ikhiuwu tallied seven boards with four points and a block while distributing a career-high four assists. Rounding out the scoring is Libby Privett with three points, and she added two rebounds and two assists.
Wofford won the opening tip and wasted no time getting on the board with a Mia Flor layup just 21 seconds in. Furman immediately pulled level, but Helen Matthews connected on a three to retake the lead and set a tone for the contest. Furman would pull level once more at 7-7, but Molly Masingale hit from distance, and Matthews connected from deep again after a Paladin basket. Furman continued to push and used a pair of free throws to pull ahead 19-18 with just over a minute left in the quarter, but Evangelia Paulk put home a paint bucket to reclaim the lead, and Wofford would not relinquish it for the remainder of the game. Matthews added a score inside to close the quarter with Wofford ahead 22-19.
The fifth-year senior hit from deep once again to begin the second quarter. Paulk connected on her own three a couple minutes later to extend the lead. Wofford’s defense was stifling in the second quarter as Furman did not get on the board until a free throw at the 5:52 mark. The Paladins added another foul shot a minute later, but Masingale then connected from distance. After a Furman jumper, the Terriers tallied back-to-back treys to close the half with Paulk and Libby Privett putting them home. After holding Furman to just four points in the second stanza, the Terriers went into the break leading 37-23.
The Paladins opened the second-half scoring with a pair of free throws, but Matthews continued her form with a three. Maddie Heiss and Queen Ikhiuwu then connected on paint scores to push the Terrier advantage to 19 points (44-25). After a Paladin basket, Heiss delivered back-to-back threes. Wofford stretched its lead to 24 with a three by Masingale and paint score by Ikhiuwu, but the Paladins found a rhythm to close the third quarter. A Furman layup started off a seven-point run to close the frame, but Wofford maintained a 57-40 advantage entering the final quarter.
Furman began the fourth with a layup, and Paulk closed the Paladin run with a foul shot. However, six-straight Paladin points shaved the margin to 58-48. After a Terrier timeout to regroup, Paulk delivered a swipe and score. Though Furman hit a free throw, Masingale connected beyond the arc. Matthews added a second-chance score to keep some distance, and the defenses for both teams clamped up from there with Wofford leading 65-49. For just over a minute, neither team scored until Paulk put home a pair of foul shots with 1:12 on the clock. Furman ran out of time from there, and the Terriers were able to dribble out a 68-51 triumph to begin SoCon action.
Wofford closes out its five-game homestand this week with a pair of matchups inside Jerry Richardson Indoor Stadium. First, UNCG comes to town on Thursday, January 16, with a 7:00 p.m. tip-off. The Terriers close the weekend with a tilt against Western Carolina on Saturday, January 18. That contest begins at 2:00 p.m.
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