NEWARK, Del. – It was a tight matchup that took an overtime period, but the top team in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference's North Division Post would come out on top against the Wilmington University women's basketball team after hitting the final shot at the buzzer in overtime for the 89-87 win at the Complex Saturday afternoon for National Girls and Women in Sports Day.
The game saw 17 ties and four lead changes along with overtime before the Eagles (15-4, 10-2 CACC) would defeat the Wildcats (3-17, 3-9 CACC) at home on the final shot of the contest.
Post would start the second half with the momentum on their side going on a 13-6 run to extend to their largest lead of the contest of nine, with 5:00 minutes left in the third. The Wildcats would slowly chip away, but the Eagles would remain up seven, until LaShyra Williams started a 7-0 run to end the quarter for the Wildcats, including a three-pointer from Kasha Andrews with 16 seconds left to tie the game up at 57 apiece heading into the fourth.
Post would once again extend their lead to seven, but Williams would give WilmU their next seven points to put them back within two with just over five minutes to play in regulation. With 3:09 to go, Emily Ansah would put the game back to a one possession game, making it 76-73, but neither team would find the back of the net, until Kiara Eubanks went to the line with 28 seconds left where she would knock down one of two three throws to make it a 76-74 game.
LaShyra Williams would come up big for the Wildcats in the next possession, getting a steal with 24 seconds left and getting the opportunity for a timeout. Out of the timeout, Kiara Eubanks would try and get to the basket for the Wildcats and would be fouled with 12 seconds left. Eubanks would knock down both three throws to tie the game at 76-76, but the Eagles would have one more opportunity in regulation.
WilmU would hold Post to a missed three-pointer, but an offensive rebound would put the Eagles to the free throw line with the chance to take the lead with five seconds left. But CACC leading scorer Taylor Williams would miss both, sending the contest into overtime.
Jadyn Whitsitt would begin overtime scoring the first two buckets for the Wildcats, before she would knock down a three-pointer with 2:24 left to give Wilmington a five-point lead. The Eagles would stick around though, scoring seven straight points to put them in front by two with 45 seconds left, and forcing WilmU into a timeout.
LaShyra Williams would tie the game out of the timeout with 38 seconds to go, but on a missed Eagle shot, Wilmington had the opportunity of taking the final shot with shot clock off. Eubanks drove left but Post stepped up and took a charge, giving them the ball with two seconds left. Taking the ball out in front of its own bench, Post found Williams at the right elbow where she would hit the turnaround game-winner for the 89-87 victory.
Four Wildcats would score in double-figures, including LaShyra Williams, who had a team-high 24 points, going 9-15 from the floor, with seven rebounds, and seven assists. Jadyn Whitsitt would finish with 21 points, and six rebounds, as Kiara Eubanks added 18 points, seven rebounds, and eight assists. Kasha Andrews added 16 points, going 4-9 from behind the arc with rebounds.
WilmU will be back at the Complex this Tuesday for a 6:00 p.m. contest against Chestnut Hill.
