Wilmington University Sports releases

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: St. Michael’s Pulls Away Late as Men’s Basketball Drops 2021-22 Season Opener, 75-65

DATE: November 13, 2021
djl

COLCHESTER, Vt. - - The Wilmington University men’s basketball team battled back from a 10-point halftime deficit and had the season opener tied with 5:29 to play, but host St. Michael’s pulled away late to take the opener of the Delta Hotel Doc Jacobs Tipoff Classic, 75-65, on Saturday afternoon at the Ross Sports Center.

Playing in their first games since the end of the 2019-20 season, the Wildcats’ (0-1) shooting touch was a bit off on Saturday, finishing the game shooting 25-of-72 form the floor (34.7 percent) and just 10-of-27 (27 percent) from beyond the three-point arc. The Purple Knights (1-0) out rebounded the Wildcats, 52-36, despite turning the ball over more, 15-10.

A Jordan Jackson three-point gave the Wildcats a 5-2 lead, but then they went cold from the field. The Purple Knights rattled off 10 straight to take a 12-5 lead before Caleb Matthews ended the drought with a three-pointer, 12-8, with 11:37 to play in the half.

The St. Michael’s lead grew to as many as 13 points in the first half, 35-22, with 2:19 to play. Justin Thomas hit a jumper before Danny Walsh hit a free throw to get it back to within 10. After a Purple Knights’ bucket, and the clock winding down, Kameron Cooper came away with a steal and jumper at the buzzer, sending the Wildcats into the break down, 37-27.

Cooper than came out of halftime and hit a three-pointer. Jordan Harding and Randy Rickards scored six straight points and all of a sudden the Wildcats were within 40-36 early in the second half. Randy Rickards came away with a steal and dunk to pull within two points, 44-42, and Danny Walsh answered a SMC bucket with a three of his own to climb back to within a point, 44-43 with 15:22 left in regulation.

But the Purple Knights went on a 9-0 run to regain a 10-point advantage, 53-43, with 13:01 showing on the clock. Back-to-back threes by Caleb Matthews and Jordan Harding, followed by a pair from the line by Randy Rickards and the Wildcats were back within two, 53-51, with 11:30 to play.

Still trailing by five, Kameron Cooper hit a three-pointer and Caleb Matthews put back an offensive rebound, tying the contest, 59-59, with 7:42 to play.

The Wildcats had a pair of chances to take the lead, but both three-pointers missed the mark. Kameron Cooper retied the game, 61-61, with a jumper, but then the Wildcats went cold from the floor. Uncharacteristically, the Wildcats turned the ball over on their next three possessions, allowing the Purple Knights to regain a seven-point edge.

The Wildcats could only get back to within as few as six points the rest of the way, and Saint Michael’s hit their free throws to regain a double digit lead late.

Kameron Cooper led the Wildcats with 18 points, shooting 7-of-9 from the floor, including 4-for-5 from the beyond the three-point arc. Randy Rickards added 10 points and two blocked shots while Jordan Harding and Danny Walsh chipped in with nine points each. Justin Thomas led the way with nine rebounds.

The second half of the Delta Hotel Doc Jacobs Tipoff Classic will take place on Sunday, as the Wildcats take on Assumption. The opening tip is set for 1:00 p.m.

 

[dawrestling]

SUBJECT: Volleyball Drops Regular Season Finale to Felician, 3-1
DATE: November 13, 2021
ETH
RUTHERFORD, N.J. - - Wilmington University saw their regular season come to a close at the hands of a 3-1 loss to the host Golden Falcons of Felician College. Set scores for the match were 18-25, 25-15, 19-25, and 21-25.
The Wildcats (20-12; 14-4 CACC) were hoping to carry some momentum into the postseason, but ran into a scrappy and hard fighting Felician (11-18 CACC; 9-8) squad. The Golden Falcons outhit the visitors and turned Wilmington errors into key points in their four-set victory.
The two teams battled back and forth early in the first set, before a Catherine Lentsch kill started a 11-5 run to close out the frame for Felician.
The second set featured much of the same to start, but a Katie Bushong kill put the Wildcats up 11-10 and started a run of four straight hitting errors from the Golden Falcons. A Heather Pedrick kill and ace made it 16-11 in favor of Wilmington. Felician would get within four (18-14), but Wilmington closed out the set on a 7-1 run and evened things up at one.
A quick 4-1 spurt on a pair of kills each from Jessica Connelly and Angel Oliver gave the Wildcats a 4-1 lead to start the 3rd set, but that momentum was short lived as the answered with a 7-1 run that put the hosts up 8-4. Wilmington would get would get as close as two after a Dorie Moore kill and a Golden Falcon error cut the deficit to 21-19, but Lentch once again carried Felician down the stretch, scoring three of the last four points of the set.
Featuring much of the same back and forth action, the fourth set saw the teams see saw back and forth early on. Kills from Pedrick and Oliver put Wilmington ahead 13-11, but the Golden Falcons responded 4-1 spurt to go ahead 17-14. The Wildcats answered right back with a 4-1 run of their own to tie things at 18. Again the teams traded points and at 20-all, key errors by the Wilmington offense gave Felician the edge and hosts took the set and a match on back-to-back kills from Maddie Sloan and Jelena Vucic.
The Wildcats were led by Angel Oliver, who continued her dominating performance at the net with 12 total blocks and nine kills. Jessica Connelly added 11 kills, while Heather Pedrick chipped in with six kills, 18 assists, and 20 digs. Mandy Behiels had nine kills and 14 digs, while Elly Collins recorded 28 digs from the libero position.
Wilmington now turns their sites to the CACC Championship Tournament next week. The Wildcats, the second seed in the Southern Division, will play host to the North’s #3 seed Post University. First serve is slated for 6 PM on Tuesday evening.