NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University women's basketball team played tough defense, but the nationally ranked No. 3 Jefferson Rams defeated the Wildcats,70-40, on Wednesday night in Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference action at the WU Athletics Complex.
The Wildcats (1-22, 0-12 CACC) held the #3 Rams (22-1, 12-0 CACC) to their lowest shooting percentage of the season (37.3 percent), but the Wildcats' offense couldn't connect at the other end to make up the difference.
Aniyah Bond hit an early three-pointer to give the Wildcats a 3-2 lead, but then the Rams scored 10 straight to open a 12-3 lead halfway through the first quarter. Trinity Brittingham hit a three-pointer to bring the Wildcats to within 14-8, but a layup at the buzzer gave the Rams an 18-8 lead at the end of quarter.
The Wildcats held the Rams to 18 points until 5:59 remaining in the second quarter, but the offense couldn't cut into the deficit during the same span, going 0-for-7 from the floor to start the second quarter. The Rams scored the last five points of the quarter, winning the frame, 15-5, and taking a 33-13 lead into the halftime break.
The Rams went a perfect 6-for-6 from inside the three-point arc in the third quarter and again extended their lead despite the Wildcats scoring 16 points in the quarter. Haley Downin, Katie Bushong, and Cha'Nyah Dunston-Mason led the Wildcats to a 6-0 spurt in the quarter, as the Wildcats finished the quarter on an 8-4 run.
Cha'Nyah Dunston-Mason converted a three-point play to start the fourth quarter to get the deficit to 21 points, but then the Rams quickly pushed the lead out to 30 with 5:09 to play.
Cha'Nyah Dunston-Mason led the Wildcats with 10 points while adding five assists, three rebounds, and two steals. Daja Claiborne finished with nine points and three rebounds while Aniyah Bond made a pair of three-pointers and finished with eight points, six rebounds, and two steals.
The Wildcats' homestand continues Saturday when they host Dominican at the WU Athletics Complex. The Chargers come to Newark for a 1:00 p.m. opening tip at the WU Athletics Complex.
