NEWARK, Del. - - Opening the 2022-23 season on Friday night, the District of Columbia used a big third quarter to pull away from the Wilmington University women's basketball team with a 76-42 victory at the WU Athletics Complex.
Amaja Mack hit a jumper as time expired at the halftime break to close the gap to 32-24 for the Wildcats (0-1), but then the Firebirds (1-0) started the third quarter with a 9-2 run to extend the lead out to 15 points and never look back.
UDC ran out to a quick 6-0 run before Amber Washington hit a three-pointer for the first points of the season for the Wildcats. Washington scored again to cut the deficit to 11-7 midway through the quarter but the Firebirds used a 9-2 run to take their first double-digit lead of the game, 20-8. Washington and Trinity Brittingham hit three-pointers to get to within six before a final bucket from UDC to end the first quarter, 22-14.
Amaja Mack converted a fastbreak layup to bring the Wildcats to within 24-18 with 5:45 left in the second quarter, but once again the Firebirds were able to extend the lead back out to double digits, 28-18. The teams traded buckets the rest of the way with Amaja Mack hitting the jumper at the buzzer to send the teams into the break, 32-24.
Daja Claiborne hit an elbow jumper with 8:01 to play to get it to 34-26, but then the Firebirds scored the next seven points to extend the lead out to 41-26. Another 9-0 run saw the Firebirds take a 52-30 lead and took that 22-point lead into the fourth, 54-32.
The fourth quarter lead grew to 30 points for the first time with 6:21 to play and grew as large as 36 before settling on the 76-42 final score.
Amber Washington finished with 12 points, hitting a pair of three-pointers. Daja Claiborne had six points and a team high nine rebounds. Trinity Brittingham finished with seven points and four rebounds in her first game as a Wildcat.
The Wildcats shot 32.7 percent from the floor, shooting 3-for-14 from three-point territory. The Firebirds used 34 Wilmington turnovers and turned them into 36 points at the other end. The Firebirds were led by Destiny Ryles' 24 points and six steals.
The Wildcats return to action on Saturday afternoon, as they host Saint Rose in another nonconference contest at the Complex. The opening tip is scheduled for 2:00 p.m.
