Third Quarter Run, Distributed Offense Gives Women’s Basketball 73-62 CACC Victory Over Holy Family

Copyright 2017; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo of Jadyn Whitsitt who led the team with 20 points against Holy Family, taken by Frank Stallworth.
Copyright 2017; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo of Jadyn Whitsitt who led the team with 20 points against Holy Family, taken by Frank Stallworth.

NEWARK, Del. - - A lopsided third quarter and a wealth of support helped the Wilmington University women's basketball team start its Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference schedule off on the right foot with a 73-62 victory over Holy Family on Tuesday night at the WU Athletics Complex.

After losing 15 straight contests against the Tigers (1-8, 0-2 CACC) from the 2009-10 season to last year, the Wildcats (3-5, 1-0 CACC) have now won two of the last three overall in the all-time series.

A close battle through the first two quarters, the Wildcats opened the margin with a 19-9 third quarter. The scores of the other three quarters combined only had the Wildcats with a one-point lead. 

The Wildcats scored in a plethora of ways, getting three players with 17 or more points, as well as Emma Matthews lighting up the box score with seven points, nine rebounds, seven assists, three steals, and two blocked shots.

Trailing 26-21 midway through the second quarter, the Wildcats started a spurt to take a halftime lead. Jadyn Whitsitt hit a pair from the line before Jonna Maddox put in a layup to get to within 26-25. Maddox made it two in a row for the lead before Nyree Grant hit a foul line jumper for the 29-26 lead. Macy Robinson ended the 10-0 run with a jumper of her own before the Tigers hit a three-pointer to go into the half with the Wildcats on top, 31-29.  

But it was the third quarter where the Wildcats made their mark in the game. A 10-2 run had the Wildcats up by double digits, 41-31, and before it was all said and done, the Wildcats 18 of the quarters first 22 points and led 49-33. Grant gave the Wildcats their largest lead of the game with an offensive board and putback with 2:38 left in the third. The Tigers scored the final three points of the quarter but the damage was done as the Wildcats went into the fourth leading by 12, 50-38.

The Tigers didn't go away easily however, getting to within single digits with 3:31 left in the game. A three-pointer brought the visitors to as close as 62-56 with 2:26 left, but the Wildcats were able to stem the tide and keep the Tigers at an arm's length.

Whitsitt led all scorers with 20 points on 6-of-10 shooting while Grant came off the bench to score 19 points on 8-of-10 shooting. Robinson collected her second double-double with 17 points and a team high 14 rebounds. Grant finished with seven rebounds as well for the Wildcats.

The Wildcats shot 44.6 percent from the floor for the game while holding the Tigers to 33.3 percent.

The Wildcats remain in CACC play with their next contest, as they head across town to square off against rival Goldey-Beacom on Saturday afternoon. The CACC doubleheader is set to begin at 1:00 p.m. at the Joseph West Jones Center on Limestone Road.