NYACK, N.Y. - - The Nyack Warriors started strong and carried a 14 point advantage into the halftime break, leading them to a 79-59 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference women's basketball victory over Wilmington University on Saturday afternoon at Bowman Gymnasium.
Nyack (5-13, 4-7 CACC) shot 45.7 percent from the floor in the first half, scoring 43 points in order to take the double digit lead into the break. Wilmington (5-13, 2-9 CACC) hit seven three-pointers in the contest, but got to the line on only 11 occasions and turned the ball over 21 times in the loss. The Warriors were then able to ice the game down the stretch, hitting 20-of-35 in the second half from the free-throw line.
The Warriors led wire-to-wire, using an 8-0 run to take a 14-4 lead with 11 minutes remaining in the first half. Sophomore Tenicia Spence hit a three-pointer followed by a layup from junior Jenn Carr to cut the deficit to five at 14-9, but the Warriors responded with another 10-3 run to move ahead 24-12 with 6:51 left in the half.
Still trailing 11, Cari Callaway converted an old fashioned three-point play to kick start a 6-0 run, before Tiaja Harrold made it a 9-3 run with a three-pointer with 3:35 showing on the clock, closing the gap to 29-24. But the home team used a 12-1 run to widen the lead to its largest point of the first half, 41-25, with 38 seconds to play before settling for a 14 point advantage going into the break.
The Wildcats scored the first four points of the second half on a layup by Carr and a jumper by Harrold to cut the margin to 10 points, but the Wildcats were unable to get any closer the remainder of the contest.
Wilmington's 21 turnovers resulted in 28 Nyack points while the Wildcats could only score 13 points off 16 Warrior miscues. Nyack also held a 20-6 advantage in points in the paint.
Spence led the Wildcats with 14 points, hitting three three-pointers while Harrold tallied 10 points off the bench. Freshman Jasmine Lee came off the bench to lead the team with seven rebound while junior Taylor Carter finishing with a game high eight assists while adding seven points off the bench. The Wildcats assists on 15 of their 23 field goals in the game.
The Warriors were led by Audrey Matteson's game high 21 points and nine rebounds, converting on 7-of-14 from the floor. Tori Trador and Meghan Richards tallied 10 points each to help the Warriors snap a three game losing streak.
After two games on the road, the Wildcats return to the WU Athletics Complex for a pair of games this week. Wilmington will host Chestnut Hill on Tuesday before welcoming Concordia to Newark for a doubleheader on Saturday.
Tuesday's CACC doubleheader against Chestnut Hill will be a BLACKOUT! Wilmington's Student Life department is encouraging all fans to wear black to the doubleheader and help cheer the Wildcats to victory over the Griffins. The women's game will begin the doubleheader with a 6 p.m. tip.