BOWIE, Md. - - The middle of the game got away from the Wilmington University women's basketball team, as it fell in its first road game of the 2018-19 season, 80-38, to Bowie State on Wednesday night.
The Bulldogs (2-1) used big second and third quarters to pull away from the Wildcats (0-3), getting a double-double from Pere Alexander (18 points and 10 rebounds) and a game high 19 points from Kyaja Williams.
Turnovers plagued the Wildcats, as they gave it up 28 times which turned into 28 points for the Bulldogs. The Bulldogs also scored 50 of their 80 points inside the paint, as compared to the Wildcats' 16 points in the paint.
Macy Robinson and Jaelyn Durrett hit back-to-back buckets to bring the Wildcats to within 14-10 late in the first half, but the Bulldogs hit the final three-pointer of the quarter to end the quarter leading 17-10.
The Wildcats were stuck with 15 points for 3:18 of game time in the second quarter, as the Bulldogs extended its lead out to 33-15 with 2:25 to play in the half. Durrett ended the drought for the Wildcats, but the Bulldogs scored the final eight points of the quarter to head into the halftime break leading, 41-17. They outscored the Wildcats, 24-7, in the second frame.
The run continued into the third quarter for the Bulldogs, as they opened the second half with the first six points to take a 47-17 lead. Another 8-0 run had the Bowie State lead out to 55-19 before heading into the final quarter leading 68-26. The Bulldogs defeated the Wildcats, 27-9, in the third quarter.
The lead ballooned to as large as 45 in the fourth quarter, before the Wildcats closed the game with a 7-4 stretch to fall 80-38.
Freshman Jaelyn Durrett led the Wildcats with 13 points on 6-of-12 shooting, adding two rebounds and two assists. Macy Robinson added nine points to go with seven rebounds while Nyree Grant came off the bench for seven points and five rebounds. Jadyn Whitsitt led the team with eight rebounds in the contest.
The Wildcats return home for their next contest, as they face Bridgeport on Friday to start a men's and women's doubleheader at the Complex. The women start the night with a 5:00 p.m. tip-off.