DELAWARE - The Wilmington College women's basketball team didn't managed a single field goal over the final 14 minutes of the game as a 13-point lead was turned in a disappointing 11-point loss, 65-54, to SUNY Oneonta in the opening round of the Hoops for Cure tournament, hosted by Ohio Wesleyan University.
"The third quarter we had some defensive breakdowns, and they made us pay for those," said Wilmington head coach Jerry Scheve. "They made some shots, and once they made their run, we didn't respond very well."
The Fightin' Quakers (3-6 overall) will play Brescia 1 p.m. Wednesday in the consolation round. Brescia fell to host Ohio Wesleyan, 71-67, in the opening game.
With 4:44 remaining in the third period, Wilmington led the Red Dragons by 13 points. Unfortunately, WC went on an extended offensive drought that it couldn't overcome. Oneonta went on a 16-4 run to end the period, and take a one-point lead into the final period. The Fightin' Quakers went missed all three of their shots with three turnovers, while hitting just half of their free throws during the Red Dragon run.
All three turnovers led to easy fast break points for Oneonta.
Wilmington shot just 13 percent (4-of-29) in the second half, including missing all 22 shots in the fourth quarter.
There was a possession in the fourth quarter in which the Fightin' Quakers pulled down half of their 14 offensive rebounds, but the possession didn't end with points. Wilmington controlled the glass, outrebounding the Red Dragons, 50-32. WC pulled down almost as many defensive rebounds (31) than Oneonta had total.
Junior Mary Moyer (Martinsville, OH/Clinton Massie) played a huge part in Wilmington's work on the boards, pulling down a career-high with 14 rebounds.
Junior Brittaney Jefferson (Dayton, OH/Chaminade Julienne) got Wilmington off to a fast start as she scored the first eight points of the game. The Fightin' Quakers continued its offensive onslaught opening up a double-digit lead early in the second period.
Wilmington led by nine at the break, and felt like it was in good shape. The Fightin' Quakers shot 41 percent (12-of-29) in the first half.
WC tallied six of the first nine points of the third period, and had a 13-point lead. However, the aforementioned drought helped send the Fightin' Quakers to the loss.
The combination of Jefferson and freshman Mackenzie Campbell (Cincinnati, OH/Turpin) continued to dominate the offense, scoring 37 of the team's 54 points. Campbell led the way with 19 points (6-of-15 shooting) with nine rebounds, while Jefferson added 18 points (5-of-18 shooting) and seven boards.
In addition to taking 59 percent of the team's shots, Campbell and Jefferson attempted 18 of the team's 29 free throw attempts.
