Press Release Written by Mitchell Coll
LAKEWOOD, N.J. - - A big third quarter allowed Georgian Court to sneak by the Wilmington University women's basketball team, 58-43, in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division matchup Saturday afternoon at the GCU Wellness Center.
After Wilmington won the second quarter, 13-12, to close the gap to 21-20 at the halftime break, the Lions came out of the locker room and won the third quarter, 21-13, to pull away from the Wildcats.
The Wildcats (2-24, 1-14 CACC) created many chances in the first quarter but could only convert three field goals. Amaja Mack started the game with a three-pointer from Amber Washington to give the Wildcats an early 3-2 lead 8:47 into the first. Fatou Ndao gave the Wildcats their next basket with 3:21 left to play from an Amaja Mack assist. The Wildcats found themselves only down by two points with under two minutes to play in the first, down 7-5. Ndao closed out the scoring for the Wildcats in the first with another layup, as the Wildcats only trailed by two points going into the second quarter, 9-7.
The Wildcats strung together back-to-back 13-point periods in the second and third. The 'Cats also outscored the Lions to pull within one point going into the half. Amber Washington drove to the lane early in the second quarter to push the Wildcats within five points.
The Wildcats were down 21-13 with 3:08 to go in the first half. Daja Claiborne pulled up a jump shot from a pass by Washington to pull the 'Cats within six points. Ndao earned her way to the foul line with under 50 seconds to go and sank both free throws to put the Wildcats within four points. Thirty seconds left to play, Tanasia Miles grabbed a defensive board from a missed basket by the Lions. The Wildcats then dropped the clock to 5 seconds when Washington connected on the three-pointer before the half.
The Wildcats shot four of 11 from the field in the third quarter, but the Lions were able to match the shooting efforts of the 'Cats by going seven of 17 from the field, including a perfect six for six from the foul line.
The Lions started the third period on a 10-run that lasted until 7:28 left to play when Jade Roberts earned her first game points from a layup. After that, however, Roberts began to heat up as she was responsible for seven of the teams' 13 points in the quarter. Roberts did so by earning trips to the foul line, going five for six in free throws in the period.
The Wildcats went into the fourth period down by 11 points. Roberts continued her scoring efforts in the fourth by starting the scoring in the period with a jump shot from a find by Washington. Then, Fatou Ndao earned her 14th and 16th points of the game with under four minutes to play with a jump shot and a layup. Azayah Garrison and Samiyah McFarlane scored layups from off the bench in the closing minutes.
Fatou Ndao and Amber Washington were able to eclipse the 200 points mark in the 2022-23 season today as Ndao had a game-high 16 points, seven rebounds, and five blocks. Ndao now has 201 points and counting on the year. Washington now has 203 points on the year as she added five points and four steals.
The Wildcats will be on the road one final time for the 2022-23 season as they will travel to Philadelphia to take on the Tigers of Holy Family on Wednesday, February 22, at 5:30 PM.