NEWARK, Del. – Despite forcing host Wilmington University (Del.) to commit its most turnovers against a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC) foe since the 2014-15 season on Saturday afternoon with three members of the Concordia College New York women's basketball team recording three steals or more, the Clippers dropped a 60-50 decision to the host Wildcats.
NOTES
• Concordia falls to 5-19, 4-11 in CACC action.
• Wilmington improves to 5-19, 5-11 in league play.
• Wilmington's 26 turnovers matches its season-high and is the most in a league contest since committing 33 at Bloomfield College on Jan. 3, 2015.
STANDOUT PERFORMERS
• Senior guard Nicole Nicholson (Staten Island, N.Y.) led the Clippers' attack behind 17 points with 15 coming from three-point territory.
• Freshman guard Christina Brown (Ardmore, Pa.) chipped in six points with six rebounds and four assists..
• Junior guard Shanice Graves (Brooklyn, N.Y.) scored six points with six rebounds, four assists and four steals.
• Freshman forward Jaayden Lafontant (Theills, N.Y.) recorded three steals.
• Freshman forward Eazette Bealon (New York, N.Y.) pulled down six rebounds with a personal-best three steals.
• For Wilmington, Sabreen Muslim scored 14 points with as many rebounds while Jadyn Whitsitt dished out five assists.
HOW IT HAPPENED
• Concordia scored the opening basket of the contest off a Graves layup, only for a 6-0 Wilmington run propelling the host to a 6-2 lead with 7:28 remaining in the opening quarter. The Clippers evened the score behind back-to-back baskets, responding to a quick 4-0 run by WU with a Nicholson triple and sophomore forward Amaya Rich (White Plains, N.Y.) layup to take an 11-10 lead with 2:37 left in the frame. The Wildcats countered with back-to-back baskets, with a freshman guard Marigona Bacaliu (Worcester, Mass.) layup in the final minute making it 14-13 at the end of the quarter.
• Wilmington used a 7-1 start to the second quarter to take a 21-14 lead with 6:54 remaining in the half. Nicholson scored the Clippers first field goal of the frame via a triple, with the two sides splitting the ensuing eight points before a Bacaliu free throw and Brown basket in response to a Wildcats basket created a 27-24 halftime score.
• Concordia knotted the score with the opening three points of the second half, using back-to-back Nicholson triples after Wilmington's first basket of the half to take a 33-29 advantage with 7:41 remaining in the third quarter. The Wildcats reclaimed the lead behind a 7-0 run, with the Clippers using a pair of baskets sandwiching a Wilmington free throw to even the score at 37-all with 2:59 remaining in the frame. Wilmington broke the stalemate with a 9-0 run, giving the host a 46-37 lead going into the final stanza.
• Nicholson opened the fourth quarter with a triple before a 6-0 response from Wilmington created the first double-digit separation of the contest at 52-40 with 6:46 remaining in the contest. Concordia limited Wilmington to just three points over the ensuing six minutes of play, scoring eight points during the stretch to get within single digits only for the host to score five of the final seven points of the contest to create the final score.
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE
• The Clippers converted on 21-78 shots, going 5-23 from distance and 3-10 from the free throw line.
• Wilmington went 22-59 from the field, 0-11 from beyond the arc and 16-25 from the free throw line.
• The Clippers recorded 13 assists while Wilmington had 15.
• Wilmington held a 58-42 advantage in rebounds.
• Concordia committed 16 turnovers, resulting in 16 points for Wilmington. The host had 26 turnovers, leading to 13 points.
• Concordia recorded 15 steals with two blocks while the Wildcats had 10 steals with six blocks.
• Concordia got 16 points from its bench while Wilmington got 10.
UP NEXT
The women's basketball team hosts Nyack College on Tuesday, Feb. 18 with tip-off set for 5 p.m.
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