Press Release Written by Sports Information Graduate Intern Mary Kate Rumbaugh
COLCHESTER, Vt. – In their first game of the 2019-20 campaign, the Wilmington University women's basketball team fell to St. Michael's, 82-64, in the opening night of the Delta Hotel NE10/CACC Conference Challenge at Ross Sports Center Friday night.
A hot start to the second half gave St. Michael's (1-0) the push to cruise to their first win of the season over the Wildcats (0-1).
It was a tight opening minutes to the game, as newcomer Sabreen Muslim got the Wildcats on the board for the first time this season to tie the game up at 2-2. Junior forward Jadyn Whitsitt would give Wilmington their first lead of the contest after knocking down two free throws to go in front by a point, but the Purple Knights would end the quarter on a six-point run to enter the second quarter leading, 21-13.
St. Michael's would have as big as an 11-point lead, but with three minutes left before halftime, Mikala Casimir got the Wildcats started on a 12-4 run, including back-to-back threes from Kasha Andrews and Jaelyn Durrett to put WilmU down just three points, 35-32. The Purple Knights would capitalize with only four seconds left though, sinking two free throws, before getting off a last second shot to enter the break leading, 39-32.
St. Michael's would bring their momentum from the remaining minutes of the first half into the beginning minutes of the second half, going on a 17-4 run against the Wildcats to open their lead up to 58-41 with less than four minutes to play in the quarter. The Purple Knights' 27 points in the quarter put them out to a 21-point lead heading into the final quarter.
A 9-0 run for the Wildcats helped them to a 17-16 fourth quarter win over the Purple Knights, but Wilmington would fall to the host team, 82-64.
Jadyn Whitsitt led the Wildcats with a team-high 19 points, going 6-8 from the foul line, along with three rebounds and three assists. Kasha Andrews made her Wildcat debut recording 16 points, while Tiffany Jackson added 13 points and seven rebounds off the bench. Emily Ansah and Sabreen Muslim both added nine rebounds for WilmU.
The Wildcats finish out the Delta Hotel NE10/CACC Conference Challenge tomorrow afternoon when they take on Saint Rose. Tip-off is set for 1 p.m.