Women’s Basketball Snaps Five-Game Skid with 75-70 Victory over Caldwell

Copyright 209; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo of Macy Robinson who collected a double-double against Caldwell. Photo by MaryKate Rumbaugh. February 2, 2019 vs. Caldwell.
Copyright 209; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo of Macy Robinson who collected a double-double against Caldwell. Photo by MaryKate Rumbaugh. February 2, 2019 vs. Caldwell.

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NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University women's basketball team snapped a five-game losing streak on Saturday, defeating Caldwell, 75-70, in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference cross-divisional contest at the WU Athletics Complex.

The Wildcats (4-15, 4-7 CACC) led by as many as 13 points in the first half, but was in a cat fight with the Cougars (5-14, 5-7 CACC) as the visitors eventually took a lead in the fourth quarter.

The Cougars outscored the Wildcats by seven points in the third quarter, 24-17, to get back into the game, and tied the game, 54-54, with their first basket of the fourth frame. Caldwell even took small leads, 56-54, and again at 58-56, but the Wildcats scored six straight to take over the game.

Nyree Grant started the run with back-to-back layups, followed by a Macy Robinson layup, taking a 62-58 lead with 4:40 to play. Caldwell stayed close, keeping it a one-point deficit at three different possessions, but the Wildcats kept them at an arm's reach. Kiara Eubanks and Nyree Grant had back-to-back layups to take a 70-66 lead, and Eubanks answered again with a layup, 72-68, with 1:16 showing on the clock.

Caldwell cut the lead to 73-70 with a layup with 47 seconds left, but the Wildcats forced a missed layup on a fast break opportunity, and two three-pointers down to the stretch to come away with the 75-70 CACC victory.

The first half belonged to Macy Robinson, as she scored 19 of her team high 25 in the first two quarters. She led the Wildcat to an 18-8 first quarter lead by going 4-of-6 from three-point territory, starting the game with 12 points in the first quarter. She went 5-of-10 from deep in the first half. She also added 12 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.

When Caldwell changed its defense to stop Robinson in the second half, Nyree Grant took over, scoring 11 points in the third quarter and seven more in the fourth to score 19 of her 20 points in the second half. She was hindered in the first half with two early fouls.

Kiara Eubanks scored eight points in the fourth quarter, finishing 3-for-3 from the floor and 2-for-2 from the foul line. She ended with 17 points, five rebounds, and three assists.

Jadyn Whitsitt led the Wildcats with eight assists on the game. The Wildcats assisted on 20 of the team's 28 field goals in the game, and out-rebounded the Cougars, 41-34.

The Wildcats are back in action on Thursday, making up their postponed game against Dominican. The CACC doubleheader at the WU Athletics Complex starts with the women at 6:00 p.m.