Copyright 2016; Wilmington Univerity. All rights reserved. File photo of Macy Robinson from last season, taken by Frank Stallworth.
SPARKILL, N.Y. - - A second half comeback ran out of steam for the Wilmington University women's basketball team as Molloy held on in the fourth quarter to eventually defeat the Wildcats, 80-63, on Sunday in the final game of the STAC Tip-Off Challenge in Aquinas Hall Gymnasium.
Another slow start loomed large for the Wildcats (0-2), as they found themselves down 16 points at the halftime break. Momentum swung in favor of the Wildcats with a 26-16 third quarter, closing the gap to as few as two points early in the fourth quarter. But the Lions (2-0) held on and extended the lead back out for the 17-point victory.
Trailing by 13 late in the third quarter, Macy Robinson and Jocelyn Rodriguez scored five-straight points to start a run for the Wildcats. Another Robinson three-pointer brought the Wildcats to within 54-50 with 36 seconds left in the quarter before heading into the final frame down just 56-50.
Rodriguez started the fourth quarter with a layup and a jumper to bring the Wildcats to within 56-54 with 8:14 to play, but the Lions responded with a 7-0 run to stem the tide. Another 12-0 run moments later pushed the Lions' lead back out to 75-56 before settling on the final score, 80-63.
The Wildcats shot 5-of-16 from the field in the first quarter, missing all five three-pointers in finding themselves down 25-10 after 10 minutes of play. The offense started to click in the second quarter, as the Wildcats shot 7-of-14 from the floor, but continued to trail on the scoreboard, 40-24, at the half.
Robinson led the Wildcats with 16 points on the day, shooting 5-of-9 from the field, including 4-of-8 form three-point territory. LaShyra Williams scored 12 points on 6-of-14 shooting while grabbing a team high seven rebounds. Ebonee Dixon finished with 11 points and five rebounds while Rodriguez was the fourth Wildcat in double digits with 10 points and a team high four assists.
The Wildcats shot 27-of-60 (45.0%) from the floor, including 4-of-17 from three-point territory. The team also missed nine free throws, going 5-of-14 from the charity stripe.
The Wildcats remain on the road for another game to start the season, as they head to LIU Post on Wednesday. Opening tip is scheduled for 5:00 p.m. in Brookville, N.Y.