NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University women's basketball team scored the final four points of the third quarter to pull to within four, but Bridgeport held off the Wildcats, 78-70, in nonconference action at the WU Athletics Complex on Friday night.
In a close contest throughout, the Purple Knights (1-2) scored buckets at the buzzer in each the first and second quarters to take the lead and head into the halftime break up 37-33.
Nyree Grant and Jadyn Whitsitt hit back-to-back layups at the end of the third quarter to bring the Wildcats to within 57-53, marking it an even third quarter, 20-20. But that was as close as the Wildcats would get in the second half, as the Purple Knights scored the first two buckets of the fourth quarter en route to an 8-2 run to lead 65-55 with 6:43 left in regulation.
Kiara Eubanks brought the Wildcats to with 67-70 with a jumper, but the Purple Knights answered with four straight again to extend the lead out to 71-60 with 3:30 showing on the clock. Eubanks and Grant fought back with consecutive layups, but the Wildcats couldn't find a stop as Bridgeport had an answer again with a three-pointer at the other end to lead, 74-64, with 2:16 left in regulation.
The Wildcats got out quick, as Jady Whitsitt and Tanasia Miles opened the scoring with three-pointers. Jaelyn Durrett got into the long-distance action as well, hitting a triple to what would be the Wildcats largest lead of the night, 9-4, early in the first quarter. Jaelyn Durrett hit a jumper for the 16-14 lead, but Bridgeport ended the first quarter with the final four point, including a steal and layup at the buzzer.
A 7-0 run in the second quarter gave the Wildcats a 23-20 lead, capped by a Durrett three-pointer, and they led as late as 29-28 with 2:22 left in the half before the Purple Knights took the lead for good, 30-29, with 2:08 showing on the clock.
Freshman Jaelyn Durrett led the Wildcats with 17 points on four three-pointers, while Jadyn Whitsitt scored 16 points with a team high eight rebounds, three assists, and three steals. Kiara Eubanks was the final Wildcat in double figures with 10 points to go with three assists and three steals.
The Wildcats have a short turnaround before their next contest, as they take off for northwest Pennsylvania on Saturday. They head to Clarion University for a 3:00 p.m. opening tip on Saturday afternoon.
