Press Release Written by Sports Information Graduate Intern Mary Kate Rumbaugh
PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – A scoring drought in the fourth quarter by the Wilmington University women's basketball team would help Holy Family retake the lead on its way to a 71-63 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference South Division victory at the Campus Center Wednesday night.
Wilmington (3-16, 3-8 CACC) would keep the pressure on first place CACC South Division Holy Family (13-5, 11-0 CACC) the whole game as they were leading the Tigers with 8:26 left in regulation, but the Wildcats could not find the back of the net for 6:36 in the final quarter, which helped Holy Family retake the lead and the win.
The Tigers would jump out to their largest lead of the contest in the first quarter, after going on a 13-3 run to lead 25-12 with 1:28 to play in the quarter. WilmU would score six straight points from the end of the first into the second quarter to make it a 25-18 game, but the Tigers found a way to make it a 12-point difference again with 8:49 to play.
Sabreen Muslim would start a momentum swing in favor of the Wildcats after an offensive rebound and put back started WilmU on a 14-2 run, which would help tie the game up 32-32 with 2:31 to play until the half. Jadyn Whitsitt would knock down three of her seven made three throws in the half to give Wilmington the lead, 35-33 before Emily Ansah made it a 37-35 Wildcat lead heading into halftime.
Wilmington would outscore the Tigers, 21-10 in the second quarter, but would only score nine points throughout the entire third quarter. Despite the single-digit quarter, the Wildcats managed to stay within six points heading into the final quarter.
Emily Ansah would start the Wildcats off in the fourth quarter with an and-one to make it a 52-49 ballgame, until LaShyra Williams made it a one-point game less than a minute later. Kasha Andrews would get into the mix, knocking down her third three-pointer of the night to give Wilmington their eighth consecutive point to retake the lead, 54-52, with 8:26 to go.
However, WilmU's lead quickly diminished as the Tigers answered right back, going on a 15-0 run to retake the lead, holding the Wildcats scoreless until 1:50 left in the game, as they led 67-57. LaShyra Williams would knock down her first three-pointer of the game with 37 seconds left to put the Wildcats down eight, but the Tigers would hold on to remain undefeated in the CACC.
LaShyra Williams and Emily Ansah led the Wildcats with double-doubles in the contest. Williams would finish with 18 points, going 7-12 from the floor with 13 rebounds, and six assists. Ansah would finish with 17 points, going 8-11 from the floor with 13 rebounds, and two blocks. Kasha Andrews would add 12 points, three rebounds, and three assists.
Wilmington is back home this Saturday for the start of a double-header when Post comes to the Complex for a 1:00 p.m. contest.