PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - A strong first quarter carried Chestnut Hill to a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division victory over the Wilmington University women's basketball team, 98-85, on Wednesday night inside Sorgenti Arena.
The Wildcats (4-9, 1-4 CACC) committed 23 turnovers in the contest and the Griffins (9-6, 5-1 CACC) converted them into 28 points at the other end to help aide the home team to the conference victory.
The Griffins got off to a hot start, scoring a game-high 28 points in the first quarter. The bulk of the damage came in the final two minutes of action, as the Griffins nailed four consecutive three-pointers to close out the quarter, stretching a 19-15 lead into a 28-17 advantage after the first 10 minutes of play.
The three-pointers slowed down for the home team in the second quarter, but the Griffins extended their lead anyway with a 22-17 advantage in the frame. The Griffins led by as many as 18 points in the quarter before going into the halftime break leading 50-34.
The Wildcats made it interesting early in the third quarter, scoring the half's first seven points to claw back to within single digits, 50-41. An old fashioned three-point play converted by Jadyn Whitsitt capped the 7-0 spurt for the Wildcats. But that would be as close as the Wildcats would get, as the Griffins fought back and eventually took their largest lead of the game, 65-45, with 3:19 left in the quarter.
The Wildcats continued to push in the fourth quarter, getting to within single digits as Whitsitt hit a three-pointer with 1:01 left in regulation, but it was too little too for the visitors. The Wildcats produced 31 points in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Griffins, 31-27, but fell in the South Division contest, 98-85.
A pair of Wildcats finished with double-doubles, led by Nyree Grant's second straight. Grant scored a career high 25 points on 8-of-17 from the floor and 8-of-12 from the foul line, adding a season high 16 rebounds, nine of which came on the offensive glass. Whitsitt came up with her second double-double of the season, scoring a season's best 21 points on 7-of-16 shooting and 6-of-7 from the foul line. Her 11 rebounds are also a new season high for the freshman. Precious Palmer came off the bench to add 13 points as well for the Wildcats.
Chestnut Hill had six players reach double figures, led by Cassie Sebold's 19 points off the bench.
The Wildcats will look to snap their three-game losing streak when they return home to play Georgian Court on Saturday afternoon. The women start a CACC doubleheader at the WU Athletics Complex with a 1:00 p.m. opening tip.