STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - - The Wilmington University women's basketball team out-shot and out-rebounded Franklin Pierce, but the Ravens scored 37 points off turnovers in defeating the Wildcats, 69-57, on Sunday to close out the College of Staten Island Tournament.
Franklin Pierce (2-0) led wire-to-wire over the Wildcats (0-2), turning 30 Wilmington turnovers into 37 points. The Wildcats outshot the Ravens, 46.3 percent to 36.7 percent, and out-rebounded the Ravens, 44-41, but couldn't overcome the turnovers.
Sabreen Muslim put in a layup to get the Wildcats to within 13-10, but then the Ravens scored seven straight to take a 20-10 lead. Sabreen Muslim scored the final four points of the first quarter, as the Ravens led 20-14 going into the second.
Emily Ansah put in a layup in the second quarter to bring the Wildcats to within 28-24 before a Jade Roberts jumper had the Wildcats to within four again, 30-26. Franklin Pierce scored the final five points of the half with a pair from the foul line and a three-pointer to take a 35-26 lead into the halftime break.
Jade Roberts made the first bucket of the third quarter, but then the Ravens responded with a 6-0 spurt to take a 41-28 lead. The Wildcats got the deficit to under 10 on a couple occasions, but the Ravens always had an answer. Daja Claiborne made it 46-36 with a jumper with 1:55 left in third, but then the Ravens scored the final five points to take a 51-36 lead into the final frame.
A quick 7-0 run in the fourth quarter put the Ravens up 60-41 before the Wildcats closed the gap in the final moments and settled on a 69-57 final score.
Daja Claiborne recorded a double-double with a team high 14 points and 10 rebounds, adding two steals and two blocks as well. Emily Ansah came off the bench to record a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, adding three blocks. Jade Roberts scored 12 points while Sabreen Muslim came off the bench to score 10 points while adding nine rebounds.
The Wildcats will return to action next weekend when they head to Bowie State for another nonconference road contest. The opening tip is set for 1:00 p.m. in Bowie, Maryland.