Charlotte, NC - Johnson & Wales tipped off regular season play on Monday night as they played host to Carolina University. The Wildcats got a strong defensive and rebounding performance en route to a 70-65 win.

Hot shooting was the name of the game in the first quarter for JWU, as they connected on five of nine 3 point attempts. Jayla Lovett made three 3's, while Jordan McDuffie added two more. This helped the Wildcats build a 27-16 lead after the first stanza. The scoring slowed considerably in the second, as each team could only muster 11 points. 

The Bruins (0-4) stayed within 10-12 points for much of the third quarter before the Wildcats extended their lead to a game-high 16 at 53-37 on a Lovett jumper with 2:20 left in the period. Caliyana White made Carolina's only two threes of the game early in the fourth, as the Bruins cut the JWU lead in half, 58-50. A Taia Smith layup with four minutes to play brought the Bruins to within two points at 62-60, but they would get no closer. McDuffie and Leslie Hodges made key jump shots down the stretch to keep Carolina at bay.

McDuffie led the Wildcats with 18 points to go along with 9 rebounds, 4 assists, and 4 steals. Jayla Lovett scored 17 points, while Tanaeschia Dorsey added 10 more. Jordan Durant had 7 points, 9 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals.

The Wildcats are next in action on Friday, as they travel to Erskine College for a 5pm tip off.