Rams’ Late Third Quarter Run the Difference, 79-70, as Wilmington Women’s Basketball Can’t Recover

Rams’ Late Third Quarter Run the Difference, 79-70, as Wilmington Women’s Basketball Can’t Recover

Copyright 2015; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo of Macy Robinson and head coach Tiffany Silver in the fourth quarter by Frank Stallworth.

NEWARK, Del. - - An 8-0 run to end the third quarter hurt the Wilmington University women's basketball team as Philadelphia was able to hold off the Wildcats down the stretch, 79-70, in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action at the WU Athletics Complex on Tuesday night.

The Wildcats (5-4, 1-2 CACC) jumped all over the Rams (6-3, 4-0 CACC) in the early going, taking an 11-2 lead in the first three minutes of the contest. The Wildcats then found themselves down 10 late in the second quarter before the home team closed the half in a fury, sending the team into the locker room tied at 35.

Tenicia Spence gave the Wildcats the lead early in the third quarter for the first time since they led 13-12 with 2:57 to play in the first quarter. A Lindsay Bradford layup again put the Wildcats ahead, 39-37, but the Rams responded with a three-pointer and the visitors never trailed again.

Trailing 49-43 midway through the third quarter, the Wildcats went on a 6-2 run to close the gap to 51-49, but the rest of the quarter was all Philadelphia. The Rams went on an 8-0 run to close the quarter while the Wildcats went 0-4 from the floor and turned the ball over twice.

Redshirt freshman Macy Robinson did her best to bring the Wildcats back in the fourth quarter, hitting three straight three-pointers to bring the Wildcats to within 66-60 with 6:18 to play. Ebonee Dixon then finished off a steal by Robinson, bringing the Wildcats to within four points at 66-62 with 5:48 left.

Jordan Hawkins gave the Wildcats a chance with a blocked shot on the ensuing Ram possession, but the Wildcats couldn't come up with the rebound as the Rams finished on their third opportunity of the possession to end the Wildcat spurt and take the air out of the Complex. Two more free throws and the Rams again had an eight-point lead, 70-62, with 4:30 to play. The Wildcats could get to within as few as five points the rest of the way.

Robinson led the Wildcats with 16 points off the bench, shooting 4-of-5 from beyond the three-point arc and 6-of-9 from the floor overall. She also grabbed six rebounds, dished out three assists, and came up with three steals. Dixon shot 6-of-10 from the floor and finished with 14 points off the bench.

Lindsay Bradford got the Wildcats off to their hot start with 11 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Nine of Bradford's 11 came in the first quarter and she added 10 rebounds for the double-double and four blocks defensively. Spence was the final Wildcat in double digits with 10 points.

The Wildcats step away from the CACC for their next two games, as they head to Bowie State for a nonconference game on Saturday. The opening tip is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.