BRIDGEPORT, Conn. - - The Wilmington University women's basketball outscored Bridgeport, 35-30, in the second half, but it wasn't enough as the Wildcats dropped its season opener, 73-58, in the UB Tip-Off Classic on Saturday afternoon in Harvey Hubbell Gymnasium.
Coaching in her first collegiate game as a head coach, Tiffany Silver had the Wildcats (0-1 overall) as close as six points with 7:11 left in the first half before the Purple Knights (1-0 overall) went on a 15-1 run to close out the half.
Freshman Tenicia Spence led the Wildcats with 19 points on 8-for-15 shooting while sophomore Cari Callaway came off the bench to score 11 points on 4-for-13 shooting and added a team high four assists. Freshman Tiaja Harrold recorded a team high eight rebounds in 23 minutes, adding three assists.
Bridgeport had two players finish with double-doubles, led by Tanisha Carter's 18 points and 11 rebounds. Priscilla Dodoo scored 16 points and added 11 rebounds and two blocks for the home team. Vanessa Schindler also recorded double digit rebounds, finishing with 10 off the bench.
The Purple Knights out rebounded the Wildcats, 52-36 for the game, including a 19-14 advantage on the offensive glass.
The home team led wire to wire, scoring the first four points of the game before Spence nailed a three 1:58 into the game for the season's first points. Another three-pointer by Spence put the Wildcats to within one point again, 9-8, with 16:54 left in the first half, but the Purple Knights went on a 15-0 run to open up a 16 point lead with 12:58 to play in the first half.
Wilmington countered with a 14-4 run to close the gap as Callaway started the comeback with a three-pointer and a pair of layups from Taylor Carter to cut the gap to six points with 7:11 to play in the first stanza. But the Wildcats ran out of gas trying to keep coming back, and fell behind by 20 going into the halftime break.
A 4-0 run with baskets by Megan Fox and Spence to start the second half cut the deficit to 16 in the first minute, but the Wildcats couldn't get any closer than 20 until the end of the half.
Trailing 69-42 with 5:02 to play, the Wildcats scored 16 of the final 20 points of the game, closing the gap to 15 at the end of regulation. Callaway scored seven points in the final five minutes while Spence and Danielle Thomas chipped in with four points each.
The Wildcats shot 36.4 percent, 24-for-66, compared to Bridgeport's 45.0 percent, 27-for-60, for the game. The Wildcats shot 3-for-15 from three-point range, while holding the Purple Knights to 1-for-8 from down town for the match.
Wilmington remains at the UB Tip-Off Classic for another game, facing off against Molloy on Sunday in Harvey Hubbell Gymnasium. The Wildcats' second game of the season is set for a 12:00 p.m. tip.