CALDWELL, N.J. - - A big second and third quarter allowed Caldwell to pull away from the Wilmington University women's basketball team, 73-35, on Saturday afternoon in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference cross divisional contest on Corino Court.
Amaja Mack hit a three-pointer to give the Wildcats (2-17, 1-8 CACC) a 9-8 lead in the early going, but the Cougars (9-9, 5-5 CACC) outscored the Wildcats, 13-4, to close the first quarter and 29-10 the rest of the half to take command.
The Cougars went on to win the second quarter, 16-6, and then went 16-2 in the third quarter to break away. After Amaja Mack's three-point to take a 9-8 lead with 6:18 to play in the first quarter, the Cougars scored the next eight points to lead 16-12 with less than a minute to play in the frame. Amaja Mack hit another three-pointer to end the drought, but the Cougars answered with a three-pointer and a layup at the buzzer to lead 21-13 after the first.
The Cougars scored the first six points of the second quarter before Jade Roberts made a pair from the foul line. The Cougars scored the final five points of the half to take a 37-19 lead into the halftime break.
Fatou Ndao put in the only bucket of the third quarter for the Wildcats, as the Cougars outscored the Wildcats, 16-2, to take a 53-21 lead into the final quarter.
Fatou Ndao scored seven consecutive points for the Wildcats in the fourth quarter, closing the gap to 62-28 at the halfway point. Jade Roberts and Skylar Parris scored points or the Wildcats down the stretch, but the Cougars took the CACC contest, 73-35.
Fatou Ndao led the Wildcats with 13 points while adding three rebounds. Jade Roberts poured in 12 points to go with five rebounds. Daja Claiborne led the team with a career best 17 rebounds in the contest.
The Wildcats' four-game road trip came to a close on Saturday, as they now have a week off before hosting Felician in another CACC cross divisional contest next Saturday at the WU Athletics Complex. The opening tip is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.