NEWARK, Del. - - Four players scored in double digits to lead the Wilmington University women's basketball team in snapping a two-game losing streak, defeating Lancaster Bible College, 72-61, in non-conference action at the WU Athletics Complex on Thursday night.
Lancaster Bible (5-2 overall), an NCAA Division III member, carried the lead through most of the first half before the Wildcats (3-10 overall) grabbed their second lead of the game on a Lauren Brown three-pointer with 3:02 remaining in the half. Tied once again, Taylor Carter gave the Wildcats the halftime lead with a layup with 11 seconds showing on the scoreboard.
Following the halftime break, the Chargers came out and took as large as a four-point lead in the final 20 minutes, but that is when the height and the size of the Wildcats took over the contest.
Tied for the 15th time of the game at 51-51, the Wildcats put together a knock-out blow, going on a 10-0 run over a four minute span to take a commanding 61-51 lead with 4:14 to play in regulation. Sophomore forward Tashea Plummer commanded the action during the play, converting on back-to-back three-point plays from under the bucket to swing the momentum into the home team's favor.
Wilmington was able to keep the Chargers at bay the rest of the contest, as Lancaster Bible was only able to string a pair of baskets together to cut the deficit to as little as six the rest of the way. Plummer added another bucket down the stretch while junior forward Allison McDonald capped off the scoring in the match with a layup to push the Wildcats to its largest lead of the game, 11, with less than five seconds remaining.
Plummer came alive in the second half, scoring 10 of her 12 points in the second stanza, shooting 4-for-8 from the field and adding the two free throws, both as part of an and-one situation. She also was huge on the boards, grabbing all eight of her rebounds in the second half, leading the Wildcats to out-rebounding the Chargers, 51-46. It was only the third time all season the Wildcats held the advantage on the glass.
McDonald also poured in 12 points for the game, seven of which came in the second half. She finished with 11 rebounds as well, collecting the team's first double-double of the 2012-13 season. The rebounding margin also led to the Wildcats scoring 15 second chance points, compared to the Chargers' four.
The bench was a major contributor to tonight's ball game, as Auryonah Nash, Tenicia Spence, Carter, McDonald and Callie Tambling scored 39 of the team's points while not starting. Spence was also in double figures for the Wildcats, scoring 12 points as well to tie the team high. Danielle Thomas was the final Wildcat in double-digits with 10 points.
Brown led the Wildcats with five assists, helping the team to its second largest assist output of the season with 17 total. Carter dished out four helpers as well, scoring nine points by going 5-for-8 from the foul line.
Wilmington will look to win back-to-back games for the second time this year before the holiday break, and look to win four games before the New Year since the 2009-10 season. The Wildcats next and final opportunity comes Wednesday, December 14, when they welcome Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference foe Georgian Court to the WU Athletics Center for a 6 p.m. tip.
