WILMINGTON – The Lady Raiders fought hard on the road Saturday but came up short in a 43-36 loss to the New Hanover Wildcats.
The Raiders struggled to keep pace early, trailing 23-12 at halftime as New Hanover built momentum behind strong play from Jazziyah Smith, Justine McCague, and Kha’niya Bryant. Richmond Senior showed resilience in the third quarter, with Jo Jo Gilchrist leading a late rally that tied the game at 28-28 and briefly gave the Raiders a 30-28 lead.
Despite the comeback, New Hanover pulled away in the fourth quarter, using clutch free throws and timely baskets to secure the victory. Richmond Senior battled through turnovers and foul trouble, with standout performances from Jo Jo Gilcrhist, but ultimately fell short.
The Lady Raiders will look to bounce back home on December 5 against Westover High, hoping to build on the effort shown against the Wildcats.