Women’s Basketball outlasts Wilberforce in final game to close out 2023

PITTSBURGH --- Carlow University women's basketball defeated Wilberforce University, 67-61, inside Donahue Pavilion Saturday afternoon.

It was a back-and-forth game the entire time with 12 ties and 15 lead changes throughout the afternoon, but the Celtics (3-5) came out on top.

Sydney Carr led Carlow with a double-double, game-high 18 points and 10 assists. Emiley Hillgartner also recorded a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, adding five steals and three assists. Emari Stinnette contributed 16 points, and Emma Aubrey tallied half of Carlow's eight treys for 14 points.

The Celtics went on a 7-0 run to start the first quarter ahead, 11-4. Neither team would score until two minutes into the second quarter when the Bulldogs tied it up once again at 14-all.

Wilberforce went ahead, 22-16, and led for the next four minutes before an Aubrey three-pointer tied the game, 26-26.

Aubrey hit another trey less than a minute later, and a pull-up jumper from Carr put the Celtics ahead 31-26 with a minute left before the half.

Carlow led 33-29 at intermission, but a sluggish start to the third quarter allowed the Bulldogs to gain the lead once again. It was short-lived, as Aubrey hit another three to put the Celtics ahead, 36-35.

A jumper from Stinnette gave Carlow a 38-35 advantage before a Wilberforce layup and three-pointer shifted the lead back to the Bulldogs.

Both teams tied the score four more times, with Carlow ahead by two heading into the fourth quarter.

Wilberforce tied the score twice and went ahead, 52-49. The teams traded marginal leads throughout the quarter, as Carlow led 56-54 before head coach Dave Gordon called a timeout.

The Celtics outscored the Bulldogs 7-5 over the course of the next four minutes to lead, 63-59, with a minute remaining in regulation.

As time dwindled off the clock, the Bulldogs were forced to foul to regain possession and the Celtics went 4 for 10 at the line to secure the win.

Carlow scored 14 points off 21 Wilberforce turnovers, but the Bulldogs held a narrow 51-49 margin in rebounding. Wilberforce outscored the Celtics 38-20 in the paint and 35-5 off the bench.

Margo Abrams led the Bulldogs with 10 points and teammate Jada Hairston pulled down 13 rebounds.

Carlow returns to action in the new year with an AMCC road trip to Mount Aloysius College Jan. 3.