Philadelphia Defense Stifles Wilmington Women’s Basketball, 71-53, for CACC Victory

Philadelphia Defense Stifles Wilmington Women’s Basketball, 71-53, for CACC Victory

The Philadelphia women's basketball team used 13 first half steals en route to a 71-53 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory over Wilmington University at the WU Athletics Complex on Wednesday night.

A 12-0 run in the early part of the first half turned a two-point deficit into a double-digit lead for the Rams (11-1, 5-1 CACC) as the visitors went into the halftime break with an 11-point lead over the Wildcats (3-11, 1-6 CACC).

An ensuing 10-4 run by the Wildcats cut the deficit to 22-18 with 7:51 to play in the first half capped by a three-point play by Ebonee Dixon, but the Wildcats could not get any closer as the Rams pulled away late in the half to take a 37-26 lead into the break.

The Rams opened the second half on an 18-5 run to take a 55-31 lead with 14:09 remaining and took control of the contest. The Wildcats didn't get any closer than 18 points for the rest of the way, and that was at the end of the match.

The Rams turned 25 Wilmington turnovers into 26 points while the Wildcats could only turn 14 Ram turnovers into nine points on the offensive end of the floor. Nineteen of the Wildcats' 25 turnovers came in the first half.

Despite the turnovers, the Wildcats kept toe-to-toe with the Rams throughout the first half, looking to end the 11-game winning streak the Rams have in the all-time series between the two squads.

But the Rams shot 42.9 percent in the second half and out-rebounded the Wildcats, 25-19, to take control of the contest.

Tenicia Spence went 4-of-4 from beyond the three-point line in the second half to lead the Wildcats with 14 points in the game. Lindsay Bradford and Taylor Carter added eight points each while Jennifer Carr led the team with 10 rebounds.

The Wildcats shot 32.2 percent from the floor for the game, going 19-of-59, but hit 6-of-10 from beyond the three-point arc. The Rams shot 37.5 percent from the floor for the game, hitting 6-for-13 from deep.

The Wildcats return to action on Saturday when they host CACC and crosstown rival Goldey-Beacom at the WU Athletics Complex. The women start the CACC doubleheader with a 1 p.m. tip-off.