The Wilmington University women's basketball team falls short in the highest scoring game in program history, 99-91, against Caldwell on Saturday afternoon in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action at the WU Athletics Complex.
The 190 combined points is a Wilmington program record since joining the NCAA ranks for the 2004-05 season. The Wildcats (8-19, 6-13 CACC) were three points off from tying the program record for points in a single game while they also set a new mark for field goals made (38) in a single contest.
Caldwell (17-10, 14-4 CACC) used a late first half run to take the lead at the halftime break, 46-43, before gaining a 10-point advantage for the first time with 13:40 remaining in regulation.
The CACC's leading scorer and rebounder Emily Caswell was at it again, nearly gaining her season's average by the halftime break, scoring 19 and grabbing 12 rebounds for Caldwell. She finished with game highs of 32 points and 22 rebounds, shooting 11-of-18 from the floor and 10-of-11 from the foul line.
The Wildcats had five players in double digits, led by Tenicia Spence and Jasmine Lee's 16 points each. Zameria Jones finished with 15 points while Cari Callaway added 12 points off the bench. Ebonee Dixon chipped in with 10 points in her first collegiate career start.
The Wildcats used an 11-0 run in the early part of the first half to gain their largest lead of the game, 20-11. Jones started the run with a jumper before Taylor Carter hit a three-pointer for the 14-11 lead. Carter continued the run with a pair from the foul line before Jennifer Carr put home a layup from Callaway. Callaway capped the 11-point run with a layup in the paint, giving the Wildcats a nine-point lead with 13:27 to play in the first half.
Caldwell used a 6-0 run to pull to within two points with 5:24 to play before free throws by Antoinette Pilla tied and gave the Cougars the lead with 2:50 before the half.
Carin Essex-Arline gave the Wildcats the lead once more, 41-39, with a baseline jumper before the Cougars used a 7-2 run to end the half and take a 46-43 lead at the break.
An old-fashioned three-point play by Caswell gave the visitors a 10-point lead with 13:40 to play before they took their largest lead, 78-64, with 8:41 left in regulation.
The Wildcats cut the deficit to as few as 95-90, but the Cougars hit all 10 free throws down the stretch to hold off the Wildcats, 99-91.
Saturday was the final CACC contest for the season for the Wildcats but they host one more game on Tuesday before wrapping up the 2014-15 season. Wilmington will play West Virginia Wesleyan to close out their best season since 2009-10, honor the team's four seniors prior to the game. The tip is scheduled for 6 p.m.
