NEWARK, Del. - - A big first half allowed Jefferson to cruise to an 80-43 victory over the Wilmington University women's basketball team in its Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference opener on Tuesday night at the WU Athletics Complex.
Jefferson (8-1, 3-0 CACC) is ranked fourth in the East Region in the latest D2SIDA Women's Basketball Regional Poll and received votes in both the WBCA and D2SIDA National Polls this week.
The Wildcats (0-7, 0-1 CACC) came out of the locker room a different team though, competing with the CACC leaders in the second half. They had chances to win each quarter in the second half, falling in the third, 15-13, and played an even closer fourth quarter before falling, 17-16.
But the Rams were unstoppable in the first half, as they shot 11-of-19 (57.9 percent) from the floor in the first quarter and then 11-of-20 (55 percent) from the floor in the second quarter to lead 48-14.
The Wildcats scored the first bucket of the game but then the Rams went on a 10-0 run and an 18-2 run to lead 18-4 with 3:28 to play in the first quarter. They scored the final four points of the quarter to lead 24-8 after 10 minutes of play. The visitors started the second quarter by scoring the first nine points of the game to lead 33-8 before taking their 48-14 lead into the halftime break.
The Wildcats traded blows with the Rams in the third quarter as five different Wildcats scored in the quarter, led by Jade Roberts' four points on 2-of-3 shooting. Fatou Ndao scored five of her team high 15 points in the fourth quarter, adding two rebounds as well. Azayah Garrison had five rebounds and an assist as well in the frame in which the Wildcats held possession to win the quarter but couldn't convert in the end.
Fatou Ndao nearly finished with a double-double, adding 15 points and nine rebounds. Jade Roberts scored eight points and grabbed four rebounds while adding three assists. Amber Washington finished with seven points as well for the Wildcats.
The Wildcats remain home for their next contest, as they host West Chester in a nonconference matchup at the WU Athletics Complex on Sunday. The opening tip is set for 2:00 p.m.
