Fourth Quarter Comeback Falls Short For Women’s Basketball, 93-80, at Lincoln (Pa.)

Copyright 2017; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo of LaShyra Williams in the fourth quarter at Lincoln on November 28, 2017.
Copyright 2017; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo of LaShyra Williams in the fourth quarter at Lincoln on November 28, 2017.

LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. - - A fourth quarter comeback ran out of steam for the Wilmington University women's basketball team on the road at Lincoln (Pa.), as the Lions came away with the 93-80 nonconference victory inside Manuel Rivero Hall on Tuesday night.

After trailing by as many as 21 points late in the second quarter, the Wildcats (2-4) mounted a fourth quarter comeback and eventually closed the gap to as few as a single point before the Lions (1-2) regained their composure and closed out the game.

A big 27-14 second quarter gave the Lions a 13-point lead after the Wildcats worked back to tie the game at the end of the first quarter, 23-23. Out of the break, the Wildcats fought back to take the third quarter, 22-21, and started the fourth quarter with two quick buckets to get the deficit to single digits.

Emma Matthews hit a three-pointer and LaShyra Williams followed up with a layup to cut the lead to 74-68 with 7:02 left in regulation. Jadyn Whitsitt then laid one home and Williams followed with a jumper to bring the Wildcats all the way back to within 75-73 with 5:41 showing on the clock. A Matthews' jumper again brought the Wildcats to within two points at 77-75 with 5:10 left.

After the Lions hit only one of two free throws, Whitsitt was fouled at the other end and hit both free throws, clawing the Wildcats all the way back to within 78-77 with 4:33 left in the game.

But the Lions answered with the next four points, regaining an 82-78 advantage. Williams put in a layup with 2:43 left, bringing the Wildcats back to within five points, but that would be the final points the visitors would get in the game. The Lions scored the final eight points to settle on the final score, 93-80.

Williams led the Wildcats with 20 points while Matthews hit 4-of-4 from three-point territory to finish with 18 points and a team high eight rebounds. Whitsitt was the final Wildcat in double figures with 12 points.

The Lions took advantage of 16 offensive rebounds and 22 Wildcat turnovers to pick up 11 second-chance points and 26 points off turnovers. The Lions out-rebounded the Wildcats, 49-29, for the game.

The Wildcats return to the WU Athletics Complex when they next return to action on Saturday afternoon. They welcome LIU Post to Newark, Delaware for a 1:00 p.m. opening tip.