In an attempt to take down the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference's top team, the Wilmington University women's basketball team dropped a heartbreaker to USciences, 57-56, on a technical foul shot with 0.2 seconds on the board on Tuesday night at the WU Athletics Complex.
Wilmington's (7-17, 5-11 CACC) Taylor Carter hit a three-pointer from the right wing with a hand in her face to tie the game with 0.2 seconds showing on the scoreboard. But the Wildcats were assessed a bench technical following the play sending the Devils' (18-4, 14-1 CACC) Jessica Sylvester to the foul line, where she hit the first of her two to win the game.
The Wildcats jumped out fast in the game, getting a three-pointer from Tenicia Spence and another jumper by Cari Callaway to give the home team an 11-3 lead in the opening five minutes. That was the largest lead of the half for the Wildcats as the Devils battled back and took a 29-26 lead into the halftime break.
The Devils went up seven in the first 5:38 of the second half, leading 40-33 after an Isabella Ross layup. But the Wildcats battled back and Jocelyn Rodriguez finished off a fast-break with a layup from Callaway to give the home team a 41-40 lead with 8:51 remaining in regulation.
The Wildcats took a 47-42 lead with 5:46 to play on the strength of the foul shot, but the Devils scored six straight to regain a 48-47 lead with 4:08 to play.
Still leading 55-51 with 1:30 to play, the Wildcats cut into the deficit with a pair of free throws from Rodriguez and received help from the Devils as the visitors only went 1-for-4 from the line in the final minute.
Down three with 10 seconds to play, Carter took the ball the length of the floor and put up a fall-away three from the right wing, getting it to fall to tie the game with 0.2 seconds showing on the scoreboard. But Sylvester calmly hit the first technical free throw to secure the victory for the favorited Devils.
Callaway came off the bench to score 13 points while also grabbing five rebounds to lead the Wildcats. Tenicia Spence added 11 and five rebounds and Zameria Jones chipped in with 10 points while Jennifer Carr led Wilmington with seven rebounds.
The CACC's leading scorer and Devil Brianne Traub secured the double-double with 19 points and 11 rebounds while Ross led all rebounders with 14.
The Wildcats held the Devils to 31.8 percent from the field, including a 7-for-30 performance from beyond the three-point arc. The Wildcats shot 39.6 percent from the floor and hit 2-of-9 from deep.
The Wildcats take to the road for two contests as they head to Felician on Saturday and to crosstown rival Goldey-Beacom on Tuesday night.
