Women's Basketball loses first half lead against No. 25 Rust

NEW ORLEANS – The Wiley College women's basketball team grabbed the lead late in the first half but were unable to hold it in the second half of a 71-59 loss to No. 25 Rust College Saturday in a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference game at Dillard University's Dent Hall.

The loss is the Lady Wildcats first when leading at halftime. They fall to 6-4 away from Alumni Gymnasium. The Lady Bearcats maintained their lead in the conference standings.

Wiley College (10-4, 1-2 GCAC) took the lead on its first possession and held it for most of the first quarter. A three-minute scoreless drought gave Rust its first lead at 14-10 with a minute remaining. A second-chance basket by Kayja Jackson off a missed free throw and a 3-pointer by Jay'lann Myles briefly gave Wiley College the lead. Rust tied it at the end of the quarter.

The lead changed hands five times. Baskets by Myles and Nasserine William put Wiley College in front in the second quarter. Two missed shots and a turnover allowed Rust to take a one-point lead. Myles got a steal and set up Kayja Jackson for a layup. She was fouled and completed the three-point play to put Wiley College ahead by two. The Bearcats tied it but a 3-pointer by Ashunti Cooper gave the Lady Wildcats a 30-27 halftime lead.

Alaeh Pressley hit a 3-pointer to increase the lead to six early in the third quarter. Two turnovers helped the Lady Bearcats tie the game at 35. Myles briefly gave Wiley College the lead on a layup. Rust took advantage of two turnovers and claimed the lead for good. A layup by William pulled the Lady Wildcats within one. Three turnovers helped the Lady Bearcats increase their advantage to seven. Wiley College was held scoreless for four minutes and trailed by seven after three.

It was unable to mount a fourth-quarter comeback. The Gulf Coast Athletic Conference leaders pushed its advantage to 18 points. The teams were practically even in shooting with the Lady Wildcats being slightly outshot 33.9 to 32.8 percent. They struggled possessing the ball with 28 turnovers, including 21 off steals. This led to 34 points for the Lady Bearcats.

In her second game, William led the Lady Wildcats with 13 points while contributing four rebounds and two blocks. Diamond Hawthorne reached double digits with 10 points – adding five rebounds. Minnie Miller and Jackson led the team with seven rebounds each. Both of them contributed nine points.

The Lady Wildcats will close out their first GCAC pod against the host Dillard University at 5 p.m. tomorrow. The Bleu Devils fell 61-54 against Oakwood University to fall to 0-2 in conference play.

For more coverage on the Lady Wildcats visit https://wileyathletics.com/sports/wbkb/index

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