PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - Playing its highest ranked opponent in program history, the Wilmington University women's basketball team couldn't keep up with nationally No. 2 Jefferson in a 77-56 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference loss inside the Gallagher Center on Wednesday night.
Undefeated Jefferson (20-0, 11-0 CACC) jumped up to No. 2 in the latest D2SIDA National Poll on Tuesday, while being ranked No. 4 in this week's WBCA Coaches Poll. The Rams turned 17 offensive rebounds into 20 second-chance points and 17 Wildcat (3-15, 3-7 CACC) turnovers into 21 points.
Jadyn Whitsitt hit a three-pointer at the halftime buzzer, keeping the Wildcats close, 38-26, heading into the break, but a Rams' 27-14 third quarter advantage opened the margin for the home team.
The Wildcats shot 54.5 percent from beyond the three-point arc, but only got 11 attempts off, going 6-for-11 from deep. Four of those three-pointers came in the second quarter. Macy Robinson hit one of those three-pointers to cut the deficit to 28-18, but the Rams scored the next six points to reopen a 34-18 lead. Now down 15, Whitsitt hit a running three-pointer at the buzzer to send the game into the halftime break, 38-26.
Jefferson came out of the break with a 10-2 run, setting up a big third quarter for the home team. A three-pointer gave the Rams their first 20-point lead, 51-30, with 5:34 to play in the third, and they took their largest lead of the game, 65-38, with 38 seconds left in the frame.
The Wildcats scored the first four points of the fourth quarter, and used an 11-5 run to start the final frame. But the Wildcats could only get to as close as 20 points the rest of the way before the Rams settled the score at 77-56.
Macy Robinson led the Wildcats with 14 points, shooting 5-of-8 from the floor. Jadyn Whitsitt hit three three-pointer and ended with 12 points, while Nyree Grant added 10 points. Emily Ansah led the team with eight rebounds while scoring nine points.
The Wildcats shot 41.7 percent from the floor and 10-of-15 from the foul line, but was out-rebounded 39-28 for the game.
The Wildcats return to the WU Athletics Complex for their next contest, as they host North Division's Caldwell on Saturday afternoon. The women tip-off at 1:00 p.m.