Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. File photo of Lindsay Bradford against Georgian Court.
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - A slow start was too much to overcome for the Wilmington University women's basketball team in a crucial Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division contest at Chestnut Hill, 85-75, on Tuesday night in Sorgenti Arena.
A huge second half comeback fell just short as the Wildcats (12-13, 7-9 CACC) found themselves down as large as 24 points but fought back with a 13-point third quarter advantage. The Wildcats closed the gap to as few as five points in the fourth quarter, but the Griffins (10-12, 8-7 CACC) stemmed the tide and held on for the victory.
The win puts the Griffins two games ahead of the Wildcats in the loss column in the CACC South Division. Chestnut Hill, Goldey-Beacom, and Wilmington are all fighting for the fourth and final spot in the division for the upcoming CACC Tournament.
It was tough to stop the Griffins in the first half, as they shot 52.9 percent from the floor, including hitting 6-of-9 from beyond the three-point arc.
The three-pointer was falling in the first quarter, as the Griffin used four of them to open a 30-17 lead after the first 10 minutes. Back-to-back three-pointers by the home team extended the lead to 23-14. Macy Robinson hit a three-pointer to answer for the Wildcats, but the Griffins then scored the final seven points of the quarter to steal the momentum.
Already leading 34-25 midway through the second quarter, the Griffins went on an 11-0 run to take a 45-25 lead. Another three-pointer sparked a 7-0 run to end the half, going into the break leading 52-28.
The tide turned out of the halftime break, as the Wildcats outscored the Griffins, 24-11, forcing the home team into 12 turnovers in the quarter and only seven shot attempts. The Wildcats shot 8-for-17 from the floor in the quarter, hitting both three-pointers, using eight steals to get back into the game.
Lindsay Bradford and Zameria Jones scored the final five points of the third quarter and six of the first seven points of the fourth quarter to get to within 64-58. The Griffins answered with a layup but then Robinson hit another three-pointer brought the Wildcats all the way back to within five points with 7:24 to play.
The five-point deficit would be as close as the Wildcats would get, however, as the Griffins answered with seven straight points and an 11-2 run of their own to regain a 77-63 lead and never look back.
The bench scored 69 of the 75 points for the Wildcats, led by Bradford's 18 points, nine rebounds, six blocks, and three steals. Tenicia Spence poured in 15 points while hitting three three-pointer and adding four steals. Jones and Robinson scored 11 each, as Jones added four rebounds and three assists and Robinson grabbed seven rebounds while hitting three three-pointers. Ashri Broadwater was the final Wildcat in double digits with 10 points, shooting a perfect 6-of-6 from the foul line.
The Wildcats have three more games to try and grab the fourth and final spot for the CACC Tournament in the South Division. Two of the three-games are at the WU Athletics Complex, starting against Felician on Saturday. The women tip-off at 1:00 p.m.