Press Release Written by Sports Information Graduate Inter Mary Kate Rumbaugh
NEWARK, Del. – The Wilmington University women's basketball team captured its first win of the season with a 66-59 win over Bloomfield in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference cross-division matchup at the WU Athletic Complex Saturday afternoon.
The Wildcats (1-11, 1-3 CACC) would take a two-point lead into halftime over Bloomfield (3-10, 3-2 CACC) which would help them sustain the lead for the remainder of the game to secure the first victory of the 2019-20 season.
It was a back-and-forth first half for both teams, as there were nine lead changes and four ties throughout the first two quarters of the game. Kiara Eubanks would give the Wildcats a four-point lead with 6:02 to play in the first quarter thanks to an and-one, but the Bears would answer right back with a three-pointer followed by two free throws to go up, 10-9.
Bloomfield would start the second quarter on a made three ball, but Sabreen Muslim would tie the score with two consecutive shots, before LaShyra Williams hit a shot from deep to put the Wildcats in front, 19-16, with 8:04 left in the first half. Jadyn Whitsitt would score five of the next six points for WilmU thanks to a three-pointer and layup to put them back in the lead with just over five minutes to play.
The Bears' next three shots came from behind the arc, helping them go up 29-28, but Kasha Andrews would end Bloomfield's final lead of the game with a three ball with 49 seconds left in the second quarter and help WilmU take a 35-33 lead into the second half.
The Wildcats defense would hold Bloomfield to their first made shot with 6:07 to play in the third quarter, making it a 39-35 lead in favor of WilmU. Wilmington would jump out to as big as a seven-point lead with 1:54 left in the third, before taking a six-point lead into the final quarter.
The Bears started out well in the fourth, going on a 9-4 run to come within a point of the Wildcats' 55-54 lead, but Kasha Andrews would knock down the deep ball to put the Wildcats up by four and forcing the Bears into a timeout with 5:31 to play in regulation.
Out of the timeout, Bloomfield would reach within two again, but LaShyra Williams started a 7-0 run for the Wildcats helping them to their largest lead of the game of nine to go up 65-56 with 1:31 to go in the fourth.
Kasha Andrews would come off the bench and score a game-high 15 points, going 5-9 from the three-point arc. Tiffany Jackson led the starters with 13 points, going 6-12 from the floor with four rebounds, as Jadyn Whitsitt added 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds. LaShyra Williams chipped in with 11 points and eight rebounds, going 3-5 from behind the arc.
WilmU shot 39.7 percent from the floor to Bloomfield's 30.9 percent.
The Wildcats next contest is this Wednesday when they return to the Complex to take on Georgian Court. Tip-off is set for 6:00 p.m.
