Press Release Written by Sports Information Graduate Intern Mary Kate Rumbaugh
NEWARK, Del. – A fast start for the Wilmington University women's basketball team would help them to a 77-67 win over Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division Chestnut Hill Tuesday night at the Complex.
The Wildcats (4-17, 4-9 CACC) would start the contest off strong scoring the first six points of the game within the first two minutes of play. WilmU would hold Chestnut Hill (7-6, 8-14 CACC) to their first basket with 6:32 to go in the first, while only allowing them to score seven points throughout the quarter. The Wildcats scored 12 more to take an 18-7 lead into the second.
The Griffins would get within seven after their second made three-pointer to start the second, but LaShyra Williams would start Wilmington on a 6-0 run to go up 13 with 6:08 to play in the half. Sabreen Muslim would get into the action scoring six consecutive points, that would start a 12-5 run, before Williams would give the Wildcats their largest lead of the half on the final shot of the quarter, to take a 40-22 lead into halftime.
Chestnut Hill would catch the momentum swinging their way to start the second half, as they opened up the half on a 7-0 run to force the Wildcats into a timeout with 7:20 to play, making it a 40-29 contest. Sabreen Muslim would get the Wildcats on the board first in the second half with 6:31 to go, but the Griffins would stick within 12 of WilmU's 43-31 lead with 5:05 left in the third.
Muslim would then start a 7-0 push for Wilmington that included an and-one from Jadyn Whitsitt, before LaSyhyra Williams gave WilmU their largest lead of 21 with 3:12 to go, making it a 52-31 game. The Wildcats defense would hold Chestnut Hill from scoring for 2:35 during their run, before ending the third quarter up 16.
Wilmington would continue their push into the start of the final quarter, going on an 11-3 run in the first 3:46 to extend their lead to as large as 24, thanks to a three-pointer from Kiara Eubanks. The 24-point lead would quickly diminish though, as Chestnut Hill started on a 14-0 run that included four made three-pointers to put the deficit to 10 with 3:04 to go.
The Griffins would come as close to eight of the Wildcats lead with 1:03 to go, but Chestnut Hill would put the Wildcats to the line, where they would go 5-8 to maintain a 10-point advantage to seal the contest. WU would score 48 points in the paint to the Griffins 18, while winning the rebounding battle, 43-34.
LaShyra Williams would have a game-high 19 points, going 7-8 from the foul line, while grabbing 13 rebounds, and dishing seven assists, for the near triple-double. Sabreen Muslim would add 16 points, going 6-13 from the floor with six rebounds, as Emily Ansah finished with 12 points, and four rebounds. Jadyn Whitsitt would finish with 11 points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
WilmU will head to Caldwell, N.J. this Saturday to take on the Cougars for a cross division matchup at the George R. Newman Center. Tip-off is set for 1:00 p.m.
