NEWARK, Del. - - A 13-0 run to end the second quarter sparked Holy Family to an 85-37 Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference victory over the Wilmington University women's basketball team to start the 2023 calendar at the WU Athletics Complex on Wednesday night.
Jade Roberts capped a Wildcats' 5-0 run to bring the home team to within 22-21 midway through the second quarter, but then the Tigers (10-5, 5-0 CACC) finished the half on a 13-0 run and never looked back. The run continued into the third quarter, finishing at a 22-0 run as the Tigers held onto a 44-21 lead before Jade Roberts stopped the dry spell with a jumper with 7:23 to play in the third.
The Tigers remained unbeaten in CACC play by winning the third quarter, 23-6 and the fourth quarter, 26-10, in route to the 85-37 victory. The Tigers were red hot from the floor on Wednesday night, shooting 35-for-56 overall for a 62.5 percent clip. They went 9-for-20 from three-point territory, including 6-of-11 in the second half to pull away. Holy Family also converted 23 Wilmington turnovers into 36 points at the other end.
Holy Family raced out to an 8-2 lead in the first quarter but Jade Roberts scored the next three points to get to within 8-5 midway through the first quarter. The Tigers stretched the lead out to 12-5 before Tanasia Miles made a layup and Daja Claiborne hit a jumper to pull to within 12-9 with 42 seconds left. Amber Washington hit a three-pointer against the clock, sending the game into the second quarter with the Wildcats down just 14-12.
Daja Claiborne made a jumper to bring the Wildcats to within 18-16, but then the Tigers scored the next four points to lead 22-16. Claiborne made the second of two free throws and then converted a layup to make it 22-19 with 6:13 to play. Claiborne pulled in a defensive rebound and Jade Roberts raced the other way with a layup and the Wildcats were within 22-21 with 5:52 showing on the clock. But then the Wildcats went 0-5 from the floor with four turnovers the rest of the quarter as the Tigers slowly pulled away.
Jade Roberts led the Wildcats with 13 points, two rebounds and two steals while Daja Claiborne finished with 11 points, two rebounds, and an assist. Amber Washington added five points, four rebounds, and a team high four assists.
The Wildcats hit the road this weekend in another CACC contest, traveling to Orangeburg, New York to take on Dominican. The women start the CACC doubleheader with a 1:00 p.m. tip-off.