Mar 14, 2008

Wilmington and Caldwell Advance To ECAC Division II Women’s Basketball Championship

PHILADELPHIA, Pa. - Wilmington University (21-9), the #1 seed in the 2008 ECAC Division II Women's Basketball Championship presented by FieldTurf Tarkett, defeated fourth-seeded Adelphi University (14-15), 79-67, in the tournament semifinals at The Gallagher Center on Friday evening. In the other semifinal matchup, No. 3 seed Caldwell College (18-11) avenged a defeat from February 23, 2008 by upending second-seed and host Philadelphia University (19-10), 86-80. The Cougars now face the Wildcats in the title game on Saturday, March 15 at 2:00 p.m.

In the first game of the evening, Caldwell opened with a 10-2 spurt to take an 8-point lead less than five minutes into the first half. The Cougars never looked back, taking a 40-27 lead at halftime. Caldwell then stretched out to their largest advantage of the night, at 19 points, on a layup by Khaliqa Davis with 6:32 left in the game, putting the Cougars on top 68-49. The Lady Rams clawed their way back into the contest, trimming the margin to four when reserve guard Shaleta Frye knocked down a three-pointer to make the score 84-80 in favor of Caldwell with :22 seconds left. However, it was too little, too late, as Philadelphia was never able to make it a one possession game and the Cougars came out on top by six.

Jessica Romano led all players with both 21 points and 15 rebounds while Ashley Webster recorded the only other double-double in the game with 20 points and 10 boards; both in the losing effort for the Lady Rams. Leading a balanced Cougar offense were Davis and Janay Perkins, each with 17 points. Kirsty Leedham came off the bench to score 13 for the victors, who also received double-figure outings from Dana Leary (11 points and a team-high nine rebounds) and Stephanie Cadet (11 points).

In the second semifinal of the night, Wilmington out-rebounded the Panthers 41-33 to advance the championship with a 12-point win, in a game that was otherwise even statistically. Adelphi maintained pace early as the contest was tied at six points each after five minutes of play in the first half. From there, the Wildcats started to find their groove, pulling ahead 20-10 at the ten minute mark en route to an 18-point halftime advantage with the score 45-27. The lead quickly eclipsed the 20-point plateau when Jamie Gallagher drained a three-ball to put Wilmington up 48-27 just a minute into the second stanza. The Panthers fought back, cutting the Wildcat lead to nine on a tip-in by Jasmine Travers with 10:59 left that made the score 56-47. But Adelphi would never get closer as Wilmington always had them at arm's length and then some.

For the game, the Wildcats' Amelia Simmons led all scorers with 21 points, while teammate Sherelle Holmes added 18 and Gallagher finished with 14. Nordia Henry topped all players on the glass with 15 boards to go along with 12 points for the double-double. Adelphi received a double-double from Serita Lee (13 points, 12 rebounds) as well as a team-high 16 points from Gianna Smith. Lisa Manetta added 14 points and Mary Lepore 11 in the losing effort.

It's an all-Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference final between top-seeded Wilmington and third-seeded Caldwell for the ECAC Division II Women's Basketball Championship, presented by FieldTurf Tarkett, tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. at The Gallagher Center on the campus of Philadelphia University.


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