Copyright 2016; Wilmington University. All rights reserved. Photo of one of Lindsay Bradford's five blocks against Felician by Frank Stallworth.
NEWARK, Del. - - A big second quarter carried the Wilmington University women's basketball team to an 82-56 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference cross divisional game against Felician on Saturday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
Except for an 11-second span early in the first quarter, the Wildcats (13-13, 8-9 CACC) held a lead over the Golden Falcons (2-22, 2-15 CACC). Leading by just three after the first quarter, the Wildcats used a 26-11 outburst in the second quarter to seize control and take the much needed CACC contest.
In a close contest at the end of the first quarter, a Katara Pressley layup sparked a 16-0 Wilmington run with the final bucket of the period. Lindsay Bradford started the second quarter with back-to-back layups before Macy Robinson hit a three-pointer to put the home team up 25-15 with 8:16 before the half. Jocelyn Rodriguez came up with a steal and converted the full court layup to keep the run in tack. Robinson hit another three-pointer before Bradford capped the run with another layup and the 32-15 advantage with 6:41 to play.
The Golden Falcons ended the streak with a pair from the foul line, but the Wildcats went right back to work with back-to-back three-pointers from Robinson and Zameria Jones. Bradford put in yet another layup to give the Wildcats a 40-17 lead midway through the second quarter.
Felician was able to score nine of the final 13 points in the half to momentarily steam the tide, but the Wildcats went into the break holding a 44-26 lead.
The Golden Falcons narrowly outscored the Wildcats, 18-17, in the third quarter, but the Wildcats answered with a 13-4 run to start the fourth quarter to regain the momentum. Rodriguez gave the Wildcats their largest lead of the game, 76-49, with another steal and full court layup with 3:49 left in the game.
Tenicia Spence led the Wildcats with 23 points, shooting 9-18 from the field including 4-of-10 from beyond the three-point arc. Robinson hit three three-pointers and ended with 11 points while adding five rebounds, three assists, and three steals off the bench. Bradford also chipped in off the bench with 10 points, seven rebounds, and five blocks.
The win closed the game between the Wildcats and Goldey-Beacom, as the Lightning fell to Caldwell on Saturday afternoon. The Wildcats are now a half-game behind the Lightning and two games in the loss column behind Chestnut Hill for the fourth spot in the CACC South Division standings.
The Wildcats head to Goldey-Beacom next Saturday for their final road game of the regular season. The women begin the crosstown rivalry with a 1:00 p.m. tip-off at the Joseph West Jones Center.
