Cullowhee, N.C. – Western Carolina women's basketball twice cut the deficit down to three points on Saturday afternoon on Ingles Court at the Ramsey Center, but Wofford's quick eight-point start proved to be insurmountable as the Terriers managed to pull away for the 73-54 Southern Conference victory over the Catamounts.
Senior Grace Pack led the Catamounts with 13 points and four rebounds. Freshman Tina Bowers and junior transfer Betsey Burnett joined her in double figures with 10 apiece. Ally Hollifield just missed double figures with nine, adding five assists in playing the full 40 minutes, while Ary Dizon chipped in a team-high seven rebounds to accompany eight points.
Gabby Mundy, who currently leads the SoCon in scoring, lived up to her billing entering the game, finishing with a game-high 25 points that included 5-of-10 beyond the arc. Queen Ikhiuwu went for 14 points and nine rebounds, and dished out a team-high three assists.
WCU (3-22, SoCon 0-11) hits the road next week to take on the Chattanooga Mocs at The McKenzie Arena on Feb. 19. Wofford (14-11, SoCon 8-3) returns home to host the Mercer Bears for a Feb. 19 Education Day tip.
How it Happened:
Wofford quickly scored the first eight points for an 8-0 lead in the first quarter, capitalizing on a pair of missed Taj Hunter shots and a turnover to build the early lead. WCU called an early timeout before going shot-for-shot with the Terriers, eventually trimming the deficit to 15-11 after a trio of free throws from Grace Pack. Gabby Mundy and Queen Ikhiuwu went for five unanswered points to close the quarter, giving Wofford a 20-11 advantage.
After Mundy opened the second quarter with a 3-pointer, Western Carolina embarked on a 9-0 run to cut the deficit to three points with 7:31 to play. Hollifield ignited the run with a 3-pointer, with Ary Dizon scoring four and Hunter converting a defensive rebound at the other end with a layup.
However, Maddie Heiss answered with a 3-pointer to stem the tide and regain a six-point advantage, 26-20, which turned into an eight-point edge on a pair of Molly Masingale free throws. The Catamounts again pushed back, again pulling to within three points on a 5-0 scoring sprint all from Betsey Burnett to make it 28-25 with two minutes remaining before the break.
Wofford closed the half with six straight points, though, to take a 34-25 lead into the halftime locker room.
Ahead by 11 after a tip-in by Queen Ikhiuwu on the opening possession of the second half, Wofford managed to outscore the Catamounts 24-14 in the decisive third quarter. The Catamounts were only able to pull within seven in the frame, as Wofford carried a 58-39 lead into the fourth quarter.
Both teams notched 15 points in the fourth quarter as the Terriers answered WCU's scoring threats with buckets of their own. Neither team gave much ground through the final 10 as Wofford held on for the 73-54 win.
By the Numbers:
Both teams were efficient throughout the game, with the two squads both shooting 40% or better from the floor. Wofford went 28-of-59 from the floor (47.5%) with WCU going 21-of-47 (44.7%), a 12-shot attempt differential. However, Wofford was more efficient from 3-point range, hitting 9-of-18 (50.%) to WCU's 5-of-18 (27.8%)
The Terriers also outscored WCU 20-to-10 in points off of turnovers, with the Catamounts turning it over 18 times while forcing Wofford in to 14 miscues.
Up Next For The Catamounts:
With just three regular-season games remaining, WCU hits the road for a pair of games in Tennessee, as the Catamounts visit Chattanooga on Thursday, Feb. 19, and ETSU on Sat., Feb. 21. They'll return to Cullowhee on Feb. 28 for the first half of a home doubleheader, hosting the UNCG Spartans.
