WILMINGTON, Del. - - A short-handed Wilmington University women's basketball team dropped a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest to its in-state rival Goldey-Beacom, 82-60, on Saturday afternoon at the Joseph West Jones Center.
The Wildcats (3-6, 1-1 CACC) battled back from a slow start in the first quarter, but the Lightning (3-7, 1-1 CACC) stretched the lead with a big second quarter, carrying them to the CACC victory.
The Wildcats only dressed seven student-athletes in the contest and quickly fell behind as the Lightning scored the first 13 points of the game. But the Wildcats fought back by scoring the next eight points, and again had the first quarter deficit at five as Jadyn Whitsitt laid one home, 19-14. The teams traded points the rest of the way, and the Lightning exited the first quarter with a 23-18 lead.
Nyree Grant started the second quarter with a layup to cut the deficit to five once again, but then the Lightning went on a 16-3 run to take a 41-23 advantage late in the half. Grant ended the half with an offensive board and put back, but the Wildcats went into the break trailing, 47-31.
A 10-2 run to start the third quarter kept the momentum in favor of the home team, as the Lightning produced their largest lead, 82-57, with 1:04 left in the contest.
Grant led the Wildcats with her first double-double of the season, scoring a game-high 20 points while grabbing a season high 10 rebounds. Emma Matthews hit a pair of three-pointers and finishing with 18 points and seven rebounds. Whitsitt was the final Wildcat in double figures with 13 points, adding seven rebounds.
The Wildcats return to the WU Athletics Complex with their next contest, as they step outside of the CACC and host Lock Haven next Sunday. Tip-off is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
