NEWARK, Del. - - A big second quarter allowed Georgian Court to pull away from the Wilmington University women's basketball team on Tuesday night in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference opener, 78-49, at the WU Athletics Complex.
A 13-0 run saw the Wildcats' (0-8, 0-1 CACC) deficit grow from two to 15 in the second quarter as the Lions (1-6, 1-0 CACC) won the quarter, 19-8, and took a 15-point lead into the halftime break.
Down four points midway through the first quarter, the Wildcats went on a 6-2 run to pull even. Jasmine McDuffie hit a three-pointer to get within one and then Mya Nisbet cashed in another triple to tie the game, 12-12, with 4:05 to play in the first. But the Lions answered with a. 6-0 run before free throws from Aniyah Bond and Tianna Neal brought the Wildcats to within 18-14 after the first.
TyKeisha Hill put in an offensive rebound to start the second quarter, bringing the Wildcats to within 18-16. But that's when the Lions struck, going on a 13-0 run to take a 31-16 lead with 5:09 to play before the half. The lead grew to as large as 18 in the quarter for Emma Brown scored four straight and Mya Nisbet converted a free throw to cut the deficit to 35-22. The Lions had the final bucket of the quarter however, taking a 37-22 lead into the locker room.
The Wildcats scored the first four points in the third quarter and then a Mya Nisbet three-pointer brought the Wildcats to within 41-31 with 5:40 to play in the third. Daja Claiborne put back a miss to make it 43-33, but then the Lions went on a 10-1 run, regaining a 53-34 lead late in the third quarter. Armani Bell-Jackson drew a foul in the final second of play, hitting both to make it a 55-38 game going into the fourth quarter.
The Lions started hitting their three-pointers in the fourth quarter, going 5-of-6 in the frame and hitting their first four to extend the lead out to 24 points. They also ended the game scoring the final eight points, settling on the final score, 78-49.
Jasmine McDuffie led the Wildcats with 10 points while adding six rebounds and three assists. Mya Nisbet scored nine points while Daja Clairborne finished with eight points and three assists. TyKeisha Hill secured a game-high 12 rebounds while adding six points and two blocked shots. Emma Brown added seven points and seven rebounds as well.
The Wildcats remain in CACC play with their next contest, traveling the short distance to Goldey-Beacom on Saturday afternoon. They start at 1:00 p.m. inside the Joseph West Jones Center.