LEXINGTON, Kentucky - The Wilmington College women's basketball team forced 30 turnovers and defeated Maryville University (Tennessee) 54-39 in the consolation final of the Pat Deacon Classic hosted at Transylvania University's Clive M. Beck Center on Sunday.
The 39 points surrendered marks the second time (Mount Union, 2016-17) in the last decade that the Quakers have held an opponent under 40 points.
The Scots got things going early as after Cassidy Lovett stole a pass, was fouled and made two free throws to start the game, Maryville went on a 9-3 run to take its biggest lead of the game at the midway point of the first quarter. Wilmington quick got back within a possession, however, as Kyria Walker found Zahrya Bailey for a triple on the first possession out of the media timeout. That triple started a Quaker run to ended the quarter. Over the final five minutes, WC outscored Maryville 16-2 featuring triples from Walker and two from Bekah Bowser to build a double-digit 21-11 advantage after 10 minutes.
Maryville cut the deficit to four points (25-21) with four minutes to play in the second quarter, but the Quakers, who once again closed a quarter with a triple, went up 35-25 at halftime thanks to another long-distance basket from Walker. Wilmington held the Scots to just four points in the third quarter and 14 in the second half all together in the victory.
The Scots made 16-of-43 (37.2 percent) from the field, but made just 1-of-8 (12.5 percent) from three-point range and 6-of-9 (66.7 percent) from the charity stripe. The Quakers made just 14-of-55 (25.5 percent) from the field, but eight of those were triples. Additionally, WC was nearly perfect from the free throw line, making 18-of-20 (90.0 percent). Both teams grabbed 34 rebounds.
Individually, WC relied on a balanced effort as Bailey, Walker, Marisa Seiler, Kennedy Lewis and Bowser all scored between 5-10 points. Walker garnered All-Tournament Team honors for averaged 11 points per game and knocking down five triples on the weekend. Courtney Carruthers led Maryville in defeat with 13 points on 6-of-16 shooting with 10 turnovers.
Wilmington (5-1) opens Ohio Athletic Conference (OAC) play at Baldwin Wallace University on Saturday.
