Wildcats Comeback to Force Overtime but Fall Short, 93-88, at Kutztown

Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. File photo of LaShyra Williams against Goldey-Beacom, taken by Frank Stallworth.
Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. File photo of LaShyra Williams against Goldey-Beacom, taken by Frank Stallworth.

KUTZTOWN, Pa. - - The Wilmington University women's basketball came back from its holiday break and almost took an overtime affair from Kutztown, falling 93-88 in the nonconference action at the Keystone Arena on Wednesday afternoon.

The Wildcats (4-9) scored the first four points of the overtime period after coming back from an eight points deficit late in the fourth quarter, but the Golden Bears (4-9) scored eight straight in overtime to take control and carry them to victory.

LaShyra Williams scored 22 consecutive points for the Wildcats at the end of regulation and into overtime, spanning from the 3:05 mark of the fourth quarter until the 40-second mark of the extra period. She finished with 33 points, shooting 12-of-19 from the floor and 9-of-11 from the foul line. She was two rebounds shy of her fourth double-double of the season, finishing with eight.

The 33 points are the most in a single game for the Wildcats since Tenicia Spence scored 35 points in a game against Georgian Court on January 14, 2014.

The Golden Bears scored the final three points of the second quarter to take a 33-30 lead into the halftime break. The Wildcats came out of the locker room and scored the first eight points, taking their largest lead of the game, 38-33, with 8:10 left in the quarter. But the Golden Bears outscored the Wildcats, 24-11 the rest of the quarter, holding onto a five-point lead, 57-52, heading into the fourth quarter.

The Golden Bears' Jenna Altomare gave the home team a 64-72 lead with a jumper with 2:27 left in regulation. Williams started a 7-0 run on her own with back-to-back layups, converting an Ebonee Dixon steal into a fastbreak layup at the other end. Another steal and layup, both by Williams, brought the Wildcats to within 72-71 52 seconds showing on the scoreboard.

The Golden Bears hit their next four free throws to keep the Wildcats at bay, but Williams was fouled beyond the three-point arc with eight seconds left. She stepped the to the line with a chance to tie the game and hit all three foul shots, knotting the game at 76. The Wildcats came away with a steal with one second left in regulation, but Williams' game-winner jumper was off the mark, sending the game into overtime.

Williams continued her scoring streak into the overtime period, hitting the first two jumpers to quickly put the Wildcats ahead, 80-76. She went to the line and hit a pair of free throws, keeping the visitors ahead, 82-79, with 3:21 to play. But Kutztown went on an 8-0 ensuing run, taking an 87-82 lead and never looking back.

Jasmine Lee put in a layup to draw the Wildcats to within 89-86 with 25 seconds, but the Golden Bears hit all four of their free throws down the stretch to hold off the Wildcats.

Robinson added 17 points with two three-pointers while Jocelyn Rodriguez added 10 points, seven rebounds, and two assists. Dixon came off the bench to add 13 points on 5-of-9 shooting. Emma Matthews grabbed a team high 10 rebounds while dishing out a team high four assists as well.

The Wildcats round out their 2016 schedule on Friday when they host Lincoln (Pa.) on Friday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex. The game is slated for a 1:00 p.m. tipoff.