PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - - The Wilmington University women's basketball season came to an all-too-soon end on Tuesday night as they fell 81-74 on the road at Philadelphia in the 2017 regular season finale on Tuesday night in the Gallagher Center.
In a "win and in" scenario for the second year in a row, the Wildcats (12-16, 9-10 CACC) fell on the final night of the regular season to miss out on the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference Tournament. The win puts the Rams (14-14, 9-10 CACC) into the CACC Tournament as the South Division's number four seed and a date with the North Division regular season champs Caldwell on Saturday.
The Wildcats fought back from a 12-point second quarter deficit with a 13-3 run to close the gap to as few as 30-28 with 3:06 showing on the clock. But the Rams finished off the half with two of the final three buckets to head into the break leading 34-30.
Jasmine Lee hit back-to-back jumpers to start the third quarter to tie the game at 34-34, but the Rams quickly answered with a 9-2 run of their own and never looked back. LaShyra Williams brought the game to within 46-40, late in the third quarter, but the Rams extended the lead back out to as many as 13 points before the end of the frame. They went into the final quarter of play leading 55-44.
Still trailing by 13 points, the Wildcats used an 8-0 spurt to climb to within five. Jocelyn Rodriguez started the run with a jumper before a corner three-pointer by Emma Matthews brought the Wildcats to within 62-57 with 4:00 left in regulation. But the Rams had an answer once again as they scored the next five points to put a stamp on the game.
Late three-pointers had the Wildcats to within single digits, but the Rams were able to hit enough free throws down the stretch to hold off any late-game comeback.
The Wildcats forced the rams into 22 turnovers, as they were able to convert them into 21 points. But the Rams out-rebounded the Wildcats, 43-34, for the game, including 30-17 on the defensive side, not allowing the Wildcats to get second chance points.
Lee ended her four-year career with the Wildcats with a team-high 18 points, adding five rebounds and three steals. Williams added 17 points and five rebounds while Macy Robinson chipped in with 14 points, six rebounds, and five assists. Matthews came off the bench to hit three three-pointers, finishing with 11 points. Rodriguez ended her four-year career with six points, four rebounds, and four assists on Tuesday night
