NEWARK, Del. - - A 17-1 run to end the second quarter allowed Bowie State to break a tie and take the nonconference contest from the Wilmington University women's basketball team, 65-40, on Wednesday night in the Wildcats' 2023-24 home debut at the WU Athletics Complex.
The Wildcats (0-3) and Bowie State (2-1) were tied, 16-16, with 3:39 to play, but the Bulldogs scored 17 of the final 18 points in the quarter to take a 33-17 lead into the halftime break.
The Bulldogs continued the run into the third quarter, scoring the first nine points to take a 42-17 lead. Mia Fuller hit three free throws to cut the deficit to 22 and then put in a driving layup to bring the Wildcats to within 19 points, but the Bulldogs scored the two final points to take a 51-30 lead into the fourth quarter.
Bowie State took their largest lead of the game, 61-33, with 6:29 to play in the fourth before the teams settled on the final score, 65-40.
Mia Fuller came off the bench to score 10 points, going 8-of-11 from the foul line. She also had three assists and two rebounds. Amber Washington shot 4-of-9 from the floor to score 10 points, adding five rebounds as well. Daja Claiborne nearly had a double-double with nine points and 12 rebounds, shooting 4-of-10 from the floor.
The Wildcats head to West Chester on Saturday for another nonconference contest. The Wildcats and Golden Rams tip-off at 1:00 p.m.
