BOWIE, Md. - - A 9-0 run to start the second quarter proved to be the deciding factor as Bowie State defeated the Wilmington University women's basketball team, 52-44, on Sunday night in nonconference action inside the A.C. Jordan Arena.
The Wildcats (0-3) out-rebounded the Bulldogs (1-2), 44-33, but was bitten by the turnover bug, giving the ball up 26 times, which led to 14 Bulldog points.
The Wildcats scored the final four points of the first quarter on a layup from Sabreen Muslim and a jumper from Kiara Eubanks to take a 12-11 lead after the opening 10 minutes. But the Bulldogs opened the second quarter with a layup, an old-fashioned three-point play, and two more buckets, all-told for the first nine points to take a 20-12 lead.
A three-point gave the Bulldogs a 23-16 lead and another layup ended the second quarter for the Bulldogs, sending the home team into the lockerroom with a 26-19 lead.
Jade Roberts had the first two buckets of the third quarter for the Wildcats, and buckets from Eubanks and Sabreen Muslim had the Wildcats to within three points on multiple occasions in the third quarter. But again the Bulldogs had an answer, scoring the final bucket of the quarter to keep the home team ahead, 38-32, going into the final frame.
A pair of free throws and a three-pointer gave the Bulldogs their largest lead of the game, 43-33, early in the fourth quarter. Emily Ansah put in a layup and Amaja Mack hit a free-throw and the Wildcats were cutting into the deficit, down only 43-39, with 4:51 to play. But a small 8-5 spurt put the Wildcats down 51-44 with 1:03 to play, as the Wildcats forced a missed three-pointer, but an offensive rebound and second chance layup gave the Bulldogs a seven-point lead.
Kiara Eubanks led the Wildcats with 13 points and seven rebounds while Sabreen Muslim tallied 12 points and six rebounds. Emily Ansah came off the bench to secure 12 rebounds while adding five points and two assists. Daja Claiborne chipped in with six points and seven rebounds.
The Wildcats are off for the remainder of November and will prepare for the beginning of the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference slate which begins in December. They travel to Jefferson on December 1 with the opening tip-off schedule for 6:00 p.m.