NEWARK, Del. - - The Wilmington University women's basketball team couldn't sustain its hot start on Senior Night, falling to crosstown rival Goldey-Beacom, 86-64, on Saturday night at the WU Athletics Complex in the 2024-25 season finale.

The Wildcats (1-27, 0-16 CACC) were firing on all cylinders in the first half, shooting 14-for-34, including 7-for-14 in the second quarter alone. But the defensive pressure of the Lightning (10-18, 7-9 CACC) ultimately got to the Wildcats as the Lightning pulled away late.

The Wildcats were hitting early, getting three-pointers from Jasmine McDuffie and Aniyah Bond to take a 6-2 lead. A bucket from Daja Claiborne and another triple from McDuffie and the Wildcats were in front, 11-2. Claiborne kept the Wildcats in front, 14-9, with a jumper in the paint but then the Lightning answered with a 6-0 run to take the lead, 15-14.

Emma Brown went on a 6-3 run by herself, putt the Wildcats in front 18-15 and then 20-18, but Goldey-Beacom scored the final six points of the quarter to take a 24-20 lead into the second frame.

Daja Claiborne hit buckets to close the gap to 28-26, and again at 30-28. Jasmine McDuffie hit a midrange to close the gap to within 31-30 with 5:26 before the break, btu that would be as close as the Wildcats would get. The Lightning pushed the lead back to six before taking a 40-35 lead into the halftime break.

Aniyah Bond scored four straight to bring the Wildcats to within 42-41 with 7:59 to play in the third, but the Lightning scored the next 10 points to grab a 52-41 lead. The lead deficit would balloon to 19 points in the third quarter as Goldey-Beacom won the segment, 27-15.

Goldey-Beacom would again win the fourth quarter, 19-14, taking as large as a 30-point lead before settling on the final score, 86-64.

Daja Claiborne led the Wildcats with 22 points and four rebounds, shooting 8-for-14 from the field. Jasmine McDuffie scored 19 points to go with seven rebounds, two assists, and two steals. Aniyah Bond scored nine points with three rebounds. TyKeisha Hill led the team with seven rebounds.

The team honored its seniors prior to the game on Senior Night: #1 Daja Claiborne, #2 Samiyah McFarlane, #14 Jasmine McDuffie, and #21 Aniyah Bond.