NEWARK, Del. - - Bridgeport's size proved to be too much for the Wilmington University women's basketball team on Saturday, as the Purple Knights pulled out a 51-38 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory at the WU Athletics Complex.
The Purple Knights (6-14, 5-5 CACC) three-headed monster of Shakira Hester, Stephanie McBride and Harmony Earth-Wiley were responsible for 42 of the team's 58 rebounds, including 18 of the team's 25 offensive rebounds, leading to 21 second chance points. The Wildcats (1-19, 0-10 CACC) had the deficit to within single digits in the fourth quarter but couldn't close the gap down the stretch.
Aniyah Bond started the scoring for the Wildcats with five straight points and then the Wildcat led 7-2 in the early going. The Purple Knights scored the final bucket of the first quarter, but the Wildcats led, 8-6.
Bridgeport used a 10-0 run to start the second quarter to take a 16-8 lead. Cha'Nyah Dunston-Mason scored five straight for the Wildcats and then Trinity Brittingham brought the Wildcats to within 16-15 with a jumper with 45 seconds left in the half. Bridgeport hit a three-pointer to stop the run, but then Haley Downin answered with a three-pointer of her own and Bridgeport only took a one-point lead, 19-18, into the lockerroom.
Bridgeport scored the first five points of the third quarter and then used another 9-0 run to grab a 33-21 lead with 3:09 to play. Samiyah McFarlane hit a three-pointer to cut the deficit to eight and then Brittingham hit another three to make is a 35-28 game. Despite struggling from deep all game long, Bridgeport hit a three-pointer to end the half and take a 38-28 lead into the fourth.
Amber Washington started the fourth quarter with a three-pointer, but the Wildcats couldn't find the bottom of the net again until 5:48 remaining when Aniyah Bond cut the deficit to 41-33. Bridgeport pushed the lead out to 12 before one last effort from the Wildcats saw the game get to 45-38 after a Brittingham three-pointer with 1:15 to play. Also struggling from the foul line all game, the Purple Knights closed out the game by hitting their final six from the foul line.
Trinity Brittingham led the Wildcats with 13 points, hitting three three-pointers while grabbing seven rebounds as well. Aniyah Bond scored eight points to go with nine rebounds while Azayah Garrison led the team with 11 rebounds.
Bridgeport went 3-for-35 from beyond the three-point arc but used those 25 offensive rebounds to score 21 second chance points.
The Wildcats are on the road for two games next week, first by playing Caldwell in a nonconference game on Tuesday night. The game in North Jersey is slated for a 5:30 p.m. start.