NEWARK, Del. - - A big third quarter tied the game, but the Wilmington University women's basketball team couldn't find the final touch in the fourth, as Goldey-Beacom earned the crosstown victory, 73-70, to end the 2019-20 season on Saturday afternoon at the WU Athletics Complex.
The Lightning (9-18, 9-10 CACC) went into the halftime break with an eight-point lead, but the Wildcats (5-22, 5-14 CACC) answered with a 21-13 third quarter, tying the game 53-53. The Lightning then hit three three-pointers and shot 61.5 percent from the floor in the fourth quarter, getting the edge in the quarter, and ultimately, the game.
The game started closely, as the teams traded blows throughout the first quarter. The Wildcats took as large as a 16-12 lead late on a LaShyra Williams jumper, but the Lightning hit two from the line to end the quarter with the Wildcats leading, 16-14.
Williams scored the first bucket of the second quarter, but the Lightning went on a 6-0 run to take a 20-18 lead. Another 6-0 run gave the visitors a 28-22 lead with 3:43 left before the half. The teams traded buckets down the stretch as the Wildcats closed the gap to 34-32 with 1:19 on the clock. But the Lightning finished the quarter by scoring the final six points, taking a 40-32 lead into the break.
The Wildcats quickly cut into the deficit to start the third, going on an 8-0 run to completely erase the Lightning lead, and continuing for a 14-0 sprint when all said and done, giving the Wildcats a 46-40 lead. The Wilmington lead got as large as 49-42 on a Williams free throw with 4:45 to play, but the Lightning quickly answered with a run of their own. They cut the deficit down to three before a three-pointer tied the game with 58 seconds to play. Williams gave the Wildcats the lead once more, but Sarah Round hit a jumper, sending the game into the fourth tied, 53-53.
Goldey-Beacom took a 63-58 lead with 5:50 to play, but the Wildcats used another 6-0 run to claw back into the lead, 64-63. Williams put in a layup before Kiara Eubanks got into the pain for two more, giving the Wildcats a 68-65 lead with 2:41 left in the game. But the Lightning went on an 8-0 run from there, hitting a three-pointer to take a 72-68 lead with 58 seconds left.
Down five with 27 seconds left, Williams put in a bucket to give the Wildcats a chance. The Wildcats picked up the much-needed turnover on an offensive foul, getting the ball back with 21 seconds left. But out of a timeout, the Wildcats could only get a two-pointer up and it was off the mark, giving the Lightning the three-point victory.
LaShyra Williams closed out her career with 29 points on 12-of-20 shooting, adding four rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Sabreen Muslim collected her fifth double-double of the year with 12 points and 11 rebounds. Kiara Eubanks led the team with four assists, adding nine points.
Goldey-Beaocm shot 54.2 percent from the floor for the game while the Wildcats shot 45.3 percent for the game.
