Depleted Women's Basketball falls to Virgin Islands
ST. THOMAS, U.S. Virgin Islands - Suiting up only seven players, the Wiley University women's basketball team pulled out to a double-digit first-half lead but shooting struggles and fouls in the second half prevented it from getting the victory in a 67-60 defeat against the University of the Virgin Islands in a Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) game Wednesday at the Eldrige Blake Sports and Fitness Center.
The Lady Wildcats (12-13, 8-9 HBCUAC) conclude the regular season on a three-game losing streak and finish 3-8 on the road. They finish sixth in the conference. It's the third straight game, they've had eight or fewer players active. Two-time HBCUAC Defender of the Week Jessica Nerestant missed her third consecutive game. Starting guard Kewaysha Alsup was also absent.
Despite the limited personnel, Wiley controlled the first half. Mary Leday carried the team, scoring 19 points and hitting five 3-pointers. The Lady Wildcats led by as many as 17 and held a 35-24 lead at halftime. They limited the Virgin Islands to a 25.9 shooting percentage and forced 16 turnovers. Wiley shot 42.4 percent.
In the second half, Wiley struggled to hit shots. It went 5-for-16 and 0-7 from 3-point territory. It didn't hit a field goal until 4:39 when Kendall Campbell hit a layup following a steal by Celebria Peacock. The Lady Wildcats entered the fourth quarter trailing 50-48. They suffered a critical blow when Peacock left the game with an injury in the final two minutes of the period.
The shooting woes continued for the Lady Wildcats as they didn't score their first points until 6:18 left in the fourth quarter. They trailed by as many as five. Leday got a steal and dished to Kelechi Dike. Campbell tied the game with a 3-pointer with 4:12 left in the game. She briefly gave the Lady Wildcats the lead with a triple less than a minute later. They only made one field goal in the final three-plus minutes.
Fouls became an issue. Three players fouled out in the fourth quarter, leaving Wiley shorthanded for the final 2:44, including playing 5-on-3 for the last minute. This allowed the Lady Buccaneers to seize control as they picked up their first win of the season.
Leday finished the game with 21 points - matching her season-high. She contributed a team-high nine rebounds and five steals. Campbell had her most productive game in her freshman season, scoring 17 points and grabbing five rebounds. She shot 6-for-11. Before exiting the game, Peacock posted a high of five assists. Dike shared the team lead in rebounds with Leday at nine and finished with eight points.
The Lady Wildcats will head to the 2025 Hope Credit Union HBCUAC Basketball Championship at Stillman College's Birthright Alumni Hall from February 25 until March 2. Seedings and matchups will be announced at the end of the week after the remaining HBCUAC games have been played.
For more coverage on the Lady Wildcats visit https://wileyathletics.com/sports/wbkb/index
About Wiley University Athletics
Wiley University sponsors 12 varsity sports, women's volleyball, men's and women's soccer, men's and women's cross country, men's and women's basketball, men's and women's indoor track and field, men's and women's outdoor track and field and baseball. It competes in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) and the Continental Athletic Conference for men's and women's soccer.
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