NEWARK, Del. - - In a game that featured 16 ties and 12 lead changes, it was Concordia that held the lead when it mattered most, defeating the Wilmington University women's basketball team, 75-72, in overtime in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action on Saturday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
Emma Matthews tied the game with 46 seconds left in regulation, hitting a three-pointer to tie the game at 60-60. But the Wildcats (5-11, 2-6 CACC) were out-shot in the overtime period, as the home team only hit 3-of-10 from the floor. The Clippers (2-15, 2-6 CACC) picked up their second conference win of the season by shooting 6-of-7 from the floor in the overtime session.
A tight matchup throughout, the Clippers won after the first quarter, 17-16, but the Wildcats came back to take the second quarter, 11-10, and tie the game, 27-27, going into the halftime break.
The Wildcats grabbed six offensive rebounds in the third quarter and hit a pair of three-pointers to outscore the Clippers, 17-14, and take a 44-41 lead after three quarters of play.
Macy Robinson started the fourth quarter with a layup to push the Wildcat lead to five points before Matthews hit a jumper for the 48-41 lead with 9:33 left in regulation. Lisa Eller again gave the Wildcats a seven-point lead at 50-43 with a layup with 8:01 showing on the clock. But the Clippers responded and eventually took a fourth quarter lead.
The visitors scored seven straight to tie the game, 50-50, with 6:18 left before continuing the run with another jumper to take a 52-50 lead with 5:16 to play. The Wildcats' Jadyn Whitsitt put the game on the seesaw with a three-pointer, giving the Wildcats a 53-52 lead with 4:22 to play.
Whitsitt hit another jumper with 2:03 to play, again putting the Wildcats ahead, 57-56. The Clippers answered again with back-to-back buckets to take a 60-57 lead with 1:26 left in regulation. That's when Matthews hit a straight away three-pointer to tie the game with less than a minute to play. Concordia had possession with the shot clock turned off, but its three-pointer at the buzzer rimmed out to send the game into the extra session.
In the overtime period, the Clippers hit their first two shots and even got the offensive rebound on their lone missed jumper in the period. They went 6-of-7 from the floor and 3-of-4 from the foul line in the overtime session for the win. The Wildcats went 3-of-10 from the floor and 5-of-8 from the foul line in overtime.
Concordia shot 41.8 percent from the floor for the game while the Wildcats shot 36.2 percent from the floor. The Wildcats out-rebounded the Clippers, 50-43, scored more off turnovers, 24-18, and on second chance points, 17-9, in the game. But the Clippers held the advantage in the paint, 32-26.
Whitsitt's 20 points and eight rebounds led the Wildcats while Matthews collected a double-double with 17 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. Robinson collected 13 points, eight rebounds, seven steals, and four assists.
The Wildcats return at home for their next contest, as they host Jefferson on Tuesday night at the WU Athletics Complex. They open a CACC South Division doubleheader with the tip scheduled for 6:00 p.m. at the Gallagher Center.
