Shooting woes hold back Women's Basketball against Tougaloo

TOUGALOO, Miss. — Despite a dominant performance on the glass, Wiley University struggled to find its shooting touch Saturday, falling 63-58 to Tougaloo College in a Historically Black Colleges and Universities Athletic Conference (HBCUAC) matchup.

The loss marks the second defeat in three games for the Lady Wildcats (10-4, 5-2 HBCUAC), who settled for a season split with the Lady Bulldogs. The defeat also extended a frustrating streak for Wiley, which has now lost in Mississippi for three consecutive seasons.

Wiley held a significant advantage in rebounding, out-boarding Tougaloo 49-34. That effort led to 15 second-chance points, but it wasn't enough to overcome a difficult shooting night. The Lady Wildcats shot just 27.6% from the field, while the Lady Bulldogs converted at a 34% clip.

Brandy Jones and Jessica Nerestant led Wiley with 10 points apiece. Nerestant added 11 rebounds to secure her first double-double of the season. Kelechi Dike also provided a strong presence inside, matching Nerestant with 11 rebounds to go along with six points.

The contest was a back-and-forth affair early. After trailing 15-13 through the first quarter, Wiley fell behind by six early in the second. The Lady Wildcats responded with a surge, as 3-pointers from Jones and Moriah Burley sparked a run that gave Wiley a 24-23 lead with 4:33 left in the half.

Following a brief Tougaloo rally, Mijanae Berry scored twice to put Wiley back in front. Berry then came up with a steal that led to a Keimora Banks layup, pushing the lead to five. Wiley entered the locker room with a 36-31 halftime advantage.

The momentum shifted sharply in the third quarter. Wiley went scoreless for the first few minutes of the second half, failing to record a field goal until the 6:23 mark. The drought allowed Tougaloo to reclaim the lead.

The shooting woes persisted into the final period, with Wiley managing just one field goal in the first 3:30 of the fourth quarter. The deficit grew to as many as nine points before Mia Thomas hit two late shots to pull the Lady Wildcats within three with 2:08 remaining. However, Wiley could only muster one more basket the rest of the way.

The turnover battle was nearly even, with Tougaloo holding a slight 24-23 edge in giveaways. Wiley was more efficient in transition, outscoring the Lady Bulldogs 23-19 in points off turnovers.

Up Next
The Lady Wildcats return to Marshall, Texas, for a pivotal homestand. They will host HBCUAC West Division leader Paul Quinn College on Thursday, followed by a Saturday matchup against Huston-Tillotson University.