Box Score

The Wilkes University women's basketball team shot only 28.6 percent from the field and was out-rebounded 55-29 on Saturday, falling to Manhattanville 79-47. The Lady Colonels started the contest on the right track, but the interior play of the Valiants was too much for Wilkes, who fell to 1-9 in conference play with the loss.

Wilkes came into the game with a 3-17 (1-8) record, and was looking to break a six game skid, while the Valiants held a 13-7 (7-2) record, and were coming off a one-point loss to DeSales.

It didn't take long for freshman Megan Kazmerski (Kingston, PA/Holy Redeemer), the Lady Colonels' leading scorer, to catch fire. The guard from Kingston, Pa. hit an early three-pointer and jumper, leading Wilkes to a quick 7-2 lead. Manhattanville fought its way back into the game, but another three by Kazmerski pushed the Wilkes lead to four with 13 minutes left in the period.

Wilkes utilized a tenacious half-court defense to hurry the Valiants into difficult shots, forcing many turnovers in the first half. Meanwhile, the Lady Colonels were patient on offense early, sustaining a lead until nine minutes left in the period when Manhattanville went on an 8-0 run, making the score 15-12 and forcing a Wilkes timeout.

As the half winded down Wilkes struggled on the offensive end of the floor, while the Valiants converted on multiple lay-ups by forward Jennifer McSharar to open up an eight point lead with five minutes left to play. Wilkes center Lindsey Gosse (Allentown, Pa./Allen) had sustained an injury early in the game, and Manhattanville took advantage of the Lady Colonel interior defense. The teams exchanged baskets at the end of the half, and at the break the Valiants had a 32-20 lead.

Wilkes was led by Kazmerski in the half with eight points, while Brittany Ely (Montrose, Pa./Montrose) added six points in the period. The Lady Colonels shot only 27 percent from the floor in the half, while Manhattanville hit on over 50 percent of its field goals. The story of the half was the bench points, as McSharar came in for the Valiants and scored 14 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while the Lady Colonels only got one point from their bench. Wilkes did force 11 turnovers from the Valiants, while only committing eight of its own.

Early in the second half each team came out firing, scoring two buckets a piece in the first minute and a half, but a three by Manhattanville pushed its lead to 15 with 17:47 left to play. The Valiants improved upon that lead in the next two minutes before a Lyndsay Ellis (Dallas, Pa./Dallas) free throw cut the deficit to 20 points.

With 13 minutes left to play Simona Gordon hit consecutive three-pointers, making the score 56-30 and giving the Valiants the biggest lead of the day. Each team found itself committing many fouls, slowing the pace of the game and sending each team to the free throw line multiple times.

With 8:10 left Manhattanville scored on a lay-up for the third consecutive possession, giving it a 30 point lead, 66-36. Wilkes could never mount the necessary run coupled with defensive stops to get back into the game, as the Valiants cruised to a 79-47 victory.

Wilkes was led by Kazmerski who ended with 16 point on the afternoon, while Ely added 12 points and five rebounds for the Lady Colonels. Wilkes shot under 29 percent on the day, while Manhattanville hit on 50 percent of its shots from the field.

The Lady Colonels will have a chance to bounce back when they travel to St. David's Pa. to take on Freedom Conference foe Eastern on Wednesday, February 10. That game will begin at 6:00 p.m.