Box Score

WILKES-BARRE – Sam Lynam (Spinnerstown/Quakertown) and Whitney Connolly (Liberty, PA/Liberty) combined for 37 points on Wednesday night, but it wasn't enough against Albright, as the Lions defeated Wilkes 66-61 in a well-fought game at the Marts Center.

Lynam started off the game on a good note, answering an early basket by the Lions with a three-pointer of her own, her first of three on the night. Albright took the lead with 15:52 left in the period, and looked as if it would pull away early, but Wilkes stayed with the Lions through timely shooting and aggressive defense.

Albright had its largest lead of the half at the 5:45 mark when it held a seven point advantage over the Lady Colonels. Near the end of the period Megan Kazmerski (Kingston, PA/Holy Redeemer) and Connolly each connected on shots that reduced the deficit to three points, making the score 30-27 at the break.

Lynam had 10 points in the half to go along with two assists, while Connolly and Kazmerski each added five points for Wilkes. The Lady Colonels shot a higher shooting percentage than the Lions, but Albright connected on seven-of-eight from the free throw line to hold the three point advantage.

Wilkes retook the lead for the first time since early in the contest to start off the second half, as two free throws by Connolly gave the Lady Colonels a 31-30 lead. Over the next 10 and a half minutes the Lions would go on a 26-11 run though, connecting on multiple layups and taking advantage of the five guards on the floor for Wilkes.

The Lady Colonels weren't finished though. With less than three minutes to play Wilkes found itself down by 14 points before three-pointers by Lynam and Erin Schneider (Colchester, CT/Holy Name), coupled with a layup by Connolly brought the deficit down to five with 1:25 to play. After two Lynam free throws Wilkes was down three points, but a crucial offensive rebounds for the Lions off a free throw sealed the game for Albright, who finished with a 66-61 victory.

Lynam finished with 20 points on six-of-seventeen from the floor, while Connolly added 17 points and nine rebounds before fouling out. Wilkes surrendered 15 offensive rebounds, and was out-rebounded overall by 15 boards. With the loss the Lady Colonels fall to 3-8 on the season.

The Lady Colonels will now continue into their conference season when they host Manhattanville on Saturday, Jan. 8. That game will begin at 1:00 p.m.