LAKEWOOD, N.J. - - A fast start carried the Wilmington University women's basketball team to an 84-81 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory over South Division rival Georgian Court on Wednesday at the Wellness Center Arena.
Three Wildcats (2-10, 2-2 CACC) scored in double figures, including Macy Robinson's 28 points and Nyree Grant's 24-point performances. Grant finished with a double-double, adding 10 rebounds in the win. Jadyn Whitsitt scored 16 points while adding seven rebounds.
The Wildcats raced out to a 24-point first quarter while scoring 25 more points in the second quarter, leading the Lions (2-9, 2-1 CACC), 49-37, at the halftime break.
Macy Robinson gave the Wildcats their first lead of the game, 10-9, with a three-pointer in the first quarter. Still leading 17-16, Nyree Grant laid one in before Robinson nailed another three-pointer and Jonna Maddox hit two free throws to take a 24-16 lead late in the quarter.
Jadyn Whitsitt converted an old fashioned three-point play to give the Wildcats a 31-21 lead, and hit a three-pointer of her own to grow the lead to 40-27 with 3:06 to play in the half. Kiara Eubanks made a layup with under a minute to play before Whitsitt beat the buzzer with a layup of her own to give the Wildcats a 49-37 lead at the break.
The Lions started the third quarter with a 6-0 spurt, but the Wildcats stemmed the tide and regained a 55-46 lead with 7:11 showing on the clock. With the lead again down to five, Robinson converted an old fashioned three-point play for the 67-58 lead with 1:54 to play in the quarter. The Lions had the final possession of the quarter and scored to cut the deficit to 69-62 heading into the final frame.
Kiara Eubanks spun home a reverse layup early in the fourth to go up 11 points, 73-62, but the Lions would not retreat easily. A 7-0 run cut the deficit to 74-59 before the home team got to within three points, 76-73, with 4:00 minutes left in the game. With the game still at a three-point advantage for the Wildcats, 78-75, with less than two minutes to play, Nyree Grant laid one home for breathing room, 80-75. The Lions answered with a layup of their own, and had the game to a one-point lead with a pair of free throws on their next possession, 80-79, with 51 seconds to play.
Nyree Grant calmly hit two free throws and the Lions turned the ball over on the ensuing possession. Jady Whitsitt hit two more from the foul like to go up five points and ice the game with 22 seconds left.
The Wildcats won the rebounding battle in the game, 37-32, leading to 12-second chance points. They also forced 21 turnovers, leading to 23 points off turnovers as compared to 16 points for the Lions. The Wildcats shot 45.3 percent from the floor for the game, going 4-of-13 from three-point territory.
The Wildcats will look for back-to-back victories when they return to action on Saturday at the WU Athletics Complex. They host CACC North Division foe Nyack, set for a 1:00 p.m. opening tip.