STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - - A second-quarter lead didn't stand for the Wilmington University women's basketball team, as Staten Island came back to win the nonconference battle, 77-51, on Tuesday night inside the Tank.
The Wildcats (0-5) led by as much as 14-6 late in the first quarter, and as late as with 5:31 remaining in the second quarter. But the Dolphins (2-2) went on a 20-4 run to end the second quarter and never looked back in the second half.
Amber Washington and Aniyah Bond hit three-pointers to open the scoring for the Wildcats and then Bond and Mia Fuller hit triples to give the Wildcats a 12-6 lead with 2:48 to play in the first frame. Aniyah Bond then put in a layup with 1:55 to play, giving the Wildcats their largest lead of the game, 14-6. The Dolphins answered with the final five points of the first quarter, however, including a layup on the final possession to only allow the Wildcats to lead, 14-11, going into the second quarter.
Mia Fuller hit another three-pointer and Cha'Nyah Dunston-Mason got in on the scoring act with a jumper and the Wildcats still led, 19-15, with 7:25 to play in the half. The Dolphins took a brief 20-19 lead before Aniyah Bond hit another three-pointer, giving the Wildcats their last lead of the night, 22-20, with 5:42 showing on the clock. CSI hit a three-pointer with 5:31 left to regain the lead, sparking a 20-4 run to end the quarter. During the stretch before the halftime break, the Wildcats shot 2-for-11 from the floor, including 0-for-6 from deep.
The Dolphins started the third quarter on a 10-2 run to open a 50-28 lead. The Wildcats scored six straight to get to within 50-34, but CSI went into the final frame with a 56-34 lead.
The lead ballooned to as large as 29 points with 5:55 to play in the fourth quarter. Staten Island would go on to win the fourth quarter as well, 21-17, to settle on the final score, 77-51.
Aniyah Bond led the Wildcats with 15 points while hitting four three-pointers. Mia Fuller finished with 14 points while also hitting four three-pointers, adding a team high five assists as well. Cha'Nyah Dunston-Mason was the third Wildcat to reach double figures with 11 points, adding four rebounds, three assists, and a steal. Amber Washington collected a team high nine rebounds.
The Wildcats are back in action on Sunday as they return home to start a four-game home stand. They square off against Shepherd on November 16th with a 1:00 p.m. opening tip at the WU Athletics Complex.