RUTHERFORD, N.J. - - A strong third quarter allowed Felician to pull away from the Wilmington University women's basketball on Wednesday night, leading to an 82-46 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference loss inside Job Gymnasium.
A Jasmine McDuffie three-pointer gave the Wildcats (1-14, 0-13 CACC) the lead, 26-24, with 6:05 to play in the second quarter but the Golden Falcons (10-16, 5-9 CACC) scored the final 12 points of the second quarter and the first five points of the third quarter to take the lead for good. The Golden Falcons went on to win the third quarter, 21-6, to pull away from the Wildcats.
Down five towards the end of the first quarter, TyKeisha Hill hit a jumper to close the frame bring the Wildcats to within 15-12 at the end of the first. Emma Brown started the second with an offensive rebound and putback before Jasmine McDuffie capped the 7-0 run with a three-pointer, giving the Wildcats their first lead, 17-15, early in the second. The lead went back and forth with McDuffie hitting another three-pointer for a 20-19 lead, Mya Nisbet hitting a three for the 23-21 lead and McDuffie hitting another three for the final lead, 26-24 with 6:05 to play before the break.
But the Golden Falcons took the lead for good with 4:06 to play in the second quarter, going on a 12-0 run to end the quarter and take a 36-26 lead into the locker room.
The run continued into the third quarter, scoring the first five points before the Wildcats got on the board with 7:09 left. Spanning the halftime break, the Golden Falcons went on a 17-0 run. They followed that with another 10-0 spurt, taking a 51-28 lead with 4:19 to play.
Felician finished with their best quarter, outscoring the Wildcats, 25-14, in the fourth to close out the scoring, 82-46.
Jasmine McDuffie hit five three-pointers and finished with 17 points, 12 coming in the first half. Aniyah Bond finished with eight points and five rebounds, adding two assists and a steal. Daja Claiborne scored seven points while adding four rebounds and a block. Emma Brown led the team with seven rebounds, four coming on the offensive glass.
The Wildcats return home for a game on Saturday, squaring off against CACC South Division foe Chestnut Hill. The Wildcats and Griffing tip-off at 1:00 p.m. at the WU Athletics Complex.