The Wilmington University women's basketball team scored more from the floor against Holy Family on Thursday night, but the Tigers took the 63-53 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division victory at the WU Athletics Complex.
The Wildcats (4-14, 2-8 CACC) held a lead as late at 15:10 in the second half and tied the game for the 11th time with 9:44 remaining, but the Tigers (11-7, 8-2 CACC) went 22-of-25 from the foul line in the second half to close out the victory.
Wilmington went 22-of-72 from the floor for the game while the Tigers went 17-of-52, but the game came down to the foul line as Holy Family went 28-of-36 for the game. The Wildcats only went to the line 12 times, making eight.
In a seesaw first half in which saw eight ties and three lead changes, the Wildcats held a 16-14 lead with 8:10 left in the half. An 8-0 run gave the Tigers a six-point lead before an elbow jumper by Jocelyn Rodriguez brought the Wildcats back to within two, 22-20, with 1:20 to play. The Tigers would take a 26-21 lead into the locker room for the break.
Five straight points by Zameria Jones, including an old fashioned three-point play, tied the game to start the second half before a Jennifer Carr layup gave the Wildcats the lead, 28-26, with 17:39 to play. Jones converted another layup on the Wildcats next possession, giving the Wildcats a four-point advantage with the first nine points of the second half with 17:21 left.
The Tigers used a 9-0 run of their own to retake a 35-30 lead with 13:15 to play. Trailing 38-32, the Wildcats scored six straight on the strength of jumpers by Tenicia Spence, Cari Callaway, and Rodriguez to tie the game one final time, 38-38, with 9:44 showing on the scoreboard.
On the strength of eight made free throws and a layup, the Tigers grabbed a 48-41 lead with 6:50 to play and the Wildcats couldn't get any closer than five for the rest of the contest.
A Kasey Woetzel layup gave the Tigers its largest lead at 13 before settling on the 10-point victory.
Jones led the Wildcats with 15 points while also grabbing a team high six rebounds. Spence scored 13 points and grabbed four rebounds in all 40 minutes. Callaway scored five points off the bench and led the team with three assists. Rodriguez came off the bench and scored six points on 3-of-5 shooting.
The Wildcats remain at home for their next contest as they welcome Nyack to the WU Athletics Complex for a CACC cross-divisional contest on Saturday. The women start the CACC doubleheader with a 1 p.m. tip.
