Press Release written by Mitchell Coll
JERSEY CITY, N.J. - - A big 18-0 run spanning the half allowed the Wilmington University women's basketball team to fight back and defeat Alliance, 49-43, for its first Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory of the year on the campus of New Jersey City University on Friday night.
The Wildcats (2-15, 1-6 CACC) also went 15-of-20 from the line to help lead them past Alliance, formerly known as Nyack College. Alliance led 27-11 with 4:50 left in the second quarter before the Wildcats went on an 18-0 run and led 29-27 with 6:03 to play in the third quarter.
In the first quarter, the Wildcats totaled seven points on three field goals and shooting one for three from the line. Fatou Ndao opened up the scoring for the 'Cats with a made jump shot from an assist from Amber Washington at 7:24 left in the first. The next offensive possession Jade Roberts followed up her shot to convert on a layup and have the Wildcats within two points early on.
Alliance went on a 12-0 run throughout the rest of the quarter, but the Wildcats were able to stop the run momentarily by scoring three points in the last 30 seconds from a Jade Roberts layup and a converted Robert's free-throw.
The Wildcats responded well in the second quarter, scoring 12 points on five of 13 shooting. Amber Washington hit a floating jump shot through the lane to pull the 'Cats within a single-digit deficit. Amaja Mack hit back-to-back jumpers from Amber Washington with 5:13 minutes left in the second. Like the first quarter, the Wildcats finished the quarter strong, with Amber Washington making a three-pointer with 13 seconds left and then a buzzer-beating jump shot by Skylar Parris to end the half. The Wildcats went into the half down 27-19.
Kerry Jenkins half time adjustments proved to be firing on all cylinders as the Wildcats poured in a quarter-high 19 points. The Wildcats came out into the second half being aggressive by earning back-to-back trips to the line a minute into the half. Amber Washington and Jade Roberts went four-for-four from the line. Then, Daja Claiborne went two-for-two from the line to put the Wildcats within two points, as the score was 27 to 25 in favor of Alliance.
Fatou Ndao tied the game up at 6:32 left in the third period at 27 apiece with a made layup. Jade Roberts earned another trip to the line to give the Wildcats the first lead of the second half. The Wildcats earned a five-point lead with 1:30 left in the third quarter with a Tanasia Miles driving layup. Miles also ended the Wildcats scoring in the third quarter with two made free throws. The Wildcats went 10-for-10 in the third quarter from the free-throw line.
Amber Washington earned her seventh point of the night by opening up the scoring for the Wildcats in the fourth quarter. Daja Claiborne then converted the Wildcat's next basket with 5:41 left to play with a made layup. The game was tightly contested for the next two minutes as the Wildcats held onto the four-point lead. Amaja Mack hit a big-time three-point shot with 1:44 left to play from a pass by Daja Claiborne to push the Wildcat's lead to six points. The Wildcats used their two-possession lead to earn trips to the foul line to close the game on top, 49-43.
Jade Roberts finished with 12 points, eight rebounds, two steals, and one assist. Amaja Mack added 10 points on two made three-pointers. Fatou Ndao added seven points and nine rebounds.
The Wildcats are back in action on Tuesday, January 17 when they take the short trip across town to Goldey-Beacom for a 6:00 p.m. tip-off.