NEWARK, Del. - - A huge second half saw West Chester take a five-point lead with 1:24 left in the second quarter and turn it into an 84-35 victory over the Wilmington University women's basketball team on Tuesday night at the WU Athletics Complex.
The Golden Rams (5-2) scored the final five points of the second quarter to take a 10-point lead into the break and then outscored the Wildcats (0-11), 53-14, in the second half to win going away.
The teams were on the seesaw in the first quarter with an Emma brown layup giving the Wildcats a 7-6 lead. A 6-0 West Chester run put the visitors ahead, 12-7, but Tianna Neal hit the final bucket of the quarter, bringing the Wildcats to within three, 12-9, after the opening 10 minutes. The Wildcats' defense held the Golden Rams to just 18.2 percent shooting from the floor in the first quarter.
An offensive putback from Emma Brown brought the Wildcats to within a point, 12-11, and the Wildcats kept it close for most of the second quarter. The Wildcats had it to within a single point three more times, the last coming from Samiyah McFarlane, 20-19, with 4:50 to play. West Chester used a 6-0 run to take before TyKeisha Hill hit a jumper to make it 26-25 with 1:24 to play in the half. The Golden Rams answered with a three-pointer and then two from the foul line in the final seconds, taking a 31-21 lead at the halftime break.
West Chester kept the double-digit lead in the early part of the third quarter, but it was a 15-0 run that helped distance themselves from the Wildcats. The Golden Rams' lead grew to 54-27 after the run and then they took a 59-29 lead into the fourth quarter. West Chester won the third frame, 28-8.
West Chester used a 6-0 run to start the fourth quarter and never looked back, outscoring the Wildcats, 25-6, in the frame.
Reynah Rattliff led the Wildcats in scoring with 10 points, adding four rebounds and three assists. Emma Brown was a point away from her third consecutive double-double, scoring nine points while adding 14 rebounds. Mya Nisbet had two points while adding four rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
The Wildcats have one more game in the 2025 calendar season, heading to Caldwell on Friday afternoon. The Wildcats and Cougars start a CACC doubleheader with a 4:00 p.m. tip in New Jersey.
