Women's Basketball downs Dillard

NEW ORLEANS - Wiley University women's basketball player Jamiya Eaddy scored 21 points and Diamond Hawthorne provided 13 to lead the Lady Wildcats to a 61-56 victory over Dillard University Friday in a Gulf Coast Athletic Conference game at Dent Hall.

Wiley (7-3, 2-0 GCAC) picks up its second road victory and wins consecutive games for the second time this season. It opens conference play with consecutive wins for the first time since 2015-16.

Eaddy recorded her third game with 20 or more points. She hit seven of 11 field goal attempts, including 4-for-6 from 3-point range. She also led the team with nine rebounds - leaving her one shy of a double-double. Hawthorne added six rebounds, three steals and two blocks. She sealed the game with a steal and a layup with 49 seconds left in the game.

The Lady Wildcats were tied at 34 at halftime. After trailing early in the third quarter, it took the lead when Kiersten Harris stole the ball and scored. Hawthorne got an offensive rebound and nailed a 3-pointer. A layup by Eaddy gave Wiley a 45-37 lead with 3:53 left in the third. It would lead by seven after three.
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In the fourth quarter, the Lady Wildcats missed their first eight shots and turned the ball over. This allowed Dillard to erase its margin and tie the game at 48 with six minutes remaining. Eaddy ended the scoring drought with a layup, giving the lead back to the Lady Wildcats with 4:50 remaining. They were unable to pull away as Dillard matched them. Harris and Hawthorne hit shots to preserve the lead.

Wiley will head to Southern University at New Orleans for a 3 p.m. game on Saturday. The Lady Knights were trounced 79-42 by Philander Smith University on Thursday.