Wilmington U Men's Basketball

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Kameron Cooper’s Career High helps the Wildcats down the Tigers, 80-71

DATE: December 4, 2021
Mitchell Coll



NEWARK, Del.--- The Wilmington University men’s basketball team secured its first victory in conference play this season in the nightcap of a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference doubleheader at the WU Athletic Complex against Holy Family with a score of 80-71. The win snaps a two-game losing streak against the Tigers.



The Tigers (2-6, 0-2 CACC) opened up the contest on a 6-0 run, which was the largest lead for them in the game. Justin Thomas helped the Wildcats (3-6, 1-2 CACC) close that gap quickly with a three-point jumper, off a nice feed by Danny Walsh.



A Danny Walsh three-pointer at 12:49 gave the ‘Cats their first lead of the game making the score 13-11. The Tigers regained the lead at 16-15 on a made jumper by Jake McGonigle with 9:22 left, but Justin Thomas solidified the lead for the rest of the game with a fast-break layup making it 17-16 with 7:10 left in the first half.



Sophomore guard Taalib Holloman ended the half in style with a three-point jumper that beat the buzzer, off an assist from Kameron Cooper.



The second half started with a made layup by freshman guard Ethan Tarte, followed by a Kameron Cooper three-point field goal at 18:51 assisted by Justin Thomas.



The ‘Cats defense in the second half was the difference-maker. The Wildcats as a team had five steals in the second half, good for nine in the game. The nail in the coffin came from Kameron Cooper who intercepted a Manny Toha pass (one of his four steals) at 14:53 and was all alone for a breakaway dunk, that had the Complex rocking. The dunk stretched the lead to 10, making the score 45-35. After that, the Wildcats controlled the rest of the half.



Senior guard Kameron Cooper led the way for the Wildcats with a season and career-high of 24 points. Cooper was one shy of a double-double with nine rebounds and dished out three assists. Junior guard Justin Thomas continued his strong scoring presence with 17 points, to go along with seven boards and an assistant. Graduate guard Danny Walsh matched Thomas with 17 points, also adding three assists and two rebounds. Junior Randy Rickards was a force defensively with two blocks, two steals and adding nine points on the offensive end.



The Wildcats take to the road for two midweek games next week, first with another CACC contest at USciences on Tuesday night. The contest will start at 7:30 p.m. in Philadelphia.

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Women’s Basketball Comes From 17 Down to Beat Holy Family, 69-64, for Coach Jenkins First Win as a Wildcat

DATE: December 4, 2021
djl

NEWARK, Del. - - Down by as many as 17 points, the Wilmington University women’s basketball team fought all the way back with a fourth-quarter comeback to earn its first victory of the season, 69-64, in a Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference contest on Saturday at the WU Athletics Complex.

The Wildcats (1-4, 1-1 CACC) outscored the Tigers (5-5, 0-2 CACC), 25-9, in the fourth quarter to come back from an 11-point deficit after three quarters. The victory is the first win for head coach Kerry Jenkins at the helm of the Wildcats.

The Wildcats scored the first 10 points of the fourth quarter, getting five straight points from Sabreen Muslim and then five straight from Kiara Eubanks to get the game to within 55-54 with 7:04 to play. Jade Roberts laid one in to tie the game, but the Tigers responded to take a 60-56 lead with 5:08 left.

Kiara Eubanks tied the game again with a runner in the paint and then Emily Ansah laid one home for the 64-62 lead with 2:12 on the clock and the Wildcats never surrendered the lead again. Eubanks and Muslim made two of the line each to extend the lead out to six, 68-62. The Tigers made one last effort with a bucket, but it was too little too late as the Wildcats held on for the five-point victory.

The Tigers led for over 36 minutes of game time on Saturday, taking its largest lead of the game, 34-17, early in the second quarter. Sabreen Muslim made a putback at the buzzer of the second quarter but the Tigers took a 38-25 lead into the halftime break. The Tigers hit a three-pointer towards the end of the third quarter, sending the visitors into the fourth and final quarter with a 55-44 lead.

Sabreen Muslim led the Wildcats with 17 points and 10 rebounds, shooting 6-of-11 from the field. Kiara Eubanks added 14 points, a game high 13 rebounds, and six assists while Emily Ansah came off the bench to score 14 points on 5-of-8 shooting. Jade Roberts finished with 10 points as well.

Holy Family’s Jessica Riepe and Lindsay Tretter scored 12 points each off the bench while Moe Moore added 11 points.

The Wildcats will look to make it two in a row on Tuesday when they head to USciences for another CACC contest. The women start the doubleheader with an opening tip set for 5:30 p.m.