Steve Finkernagel

WILKES WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GAME NOTES VS. PSU WILKES-BARRE

11/18/2011 2:33:00 PM

(Complete Game Notes)

WILKES WOMEN'S BASKETBALL GAME NOTES VS. PSU WILKES-BARRE

Wilkes Lady Colonels (2-0) vs. PSU Wilkes-Barre Mountain Lions (1-1)
Saturday, November 19, 2011 - 1:00 p.m.
Wilkes-Barre, Pa. / Marts Center

Live Stats

AT A GLANCE
The Lady Colonels make their much anticipated 2011-12 home debut Saturday against non-conference foe Penn State Wilkes-Barre at 1:00 p.m. in the Marts Center. It will mark the second game of three this season that the Lady Colonels will face a Penn State branch campus opponent as Wilkes took an 83-30 victory at PSU Hazleton to open the year last Tuesday.

LAST TIME OUT
The Lady Colonels moved to 2-0 on the season with a 59-56 road victory at Keystone College Thursday night in La Plume, Pa. Jr. G Megan Kazmerski (Kingston, PA/Holy Redeemer) led the way posting her first double-double of the season with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Fr. G Elena Stambone (Jessup, PA/Valley View) followed with nine points and two assists, while Sr. G Whitney Connolly (Liberty, PA/Liberty) and Fr. F Allison Walsh (Dickson City, PA/Mid Valley) each poured in six points. Walsh also added six rebounds.

As a team, Wilkes went cold shooting from the field finishing just 28.8 percent (21-73) from the floor and 15.0 percent (3-20) from behind the arc in coach Heery's new up-tempo style of play. The Lady Colonel defense stepped up causing 21 Giant turnovers while claiming 10 steals in the contest. It marked the second straight game the Lady Colonels defense caused 20+ opponent miscues.

WHO'S BACK
Wilkes returns four players from a season ago, including two of its top three scorers in Jr. G Megan Kazmerski (Kingston, PA/Holy Redeemer) and Sr. G Whitney Connelly. Jr. G Amanda Pawlowski (Nanticoke, PA/Holy Redeemer) and Jr. G Angela Palmerio (Telford, PA/Lansdale Catholic) are also back combining for 27 starts last season in the Lady Colonel backcourt.

Sr. G W. Connolly Jr. G A. Palmerio
Jr. G M. Kazmerski Jr. G A. Pawlowski

THE CAPTAINS
The Lady Colonels will be captained by Sr. G Whitney Connelly and Jr. G Amanda Pawlowski (Nanticoke, PA/Holy Redeemer).

Whitney brings her all-around game back to the Lady Colonels for her final season, as she has 74 games and 48 starts under her belt. Starting all 25 games a season ago, she led the team in minutes with 31.6 mpg.

Pawlowski, a junior captain, is also one of the most experienced Lady Colonels. Playing in 49 career games earning 48 starts, she has logged over 1,400 minutes on the court for Wilkes.

THE SCORER
Kazmerski led the Lady Colonels in scoring as a freshman scoring 11.5 ppg in her 26.6 mpg of action, then followed that ranking second on the team last year at 11.4 ppg in 31.1 mpg of play. She hit double figures 19 times during the season, including the final seven contests. With a 34.3 FG%, Kazmerski went 111-324 from the floor and also led the team with 7.5 rpg, including 153 defensive boards (6.1 pg).

Kazmerski jumped out to a quick start in the Lady Colonels win at PSU Hazleton scoring 12 points, grabbing five rebounds, and leading the squad with five steals in 20 minutes of action. She followed that up with her first double-double of the year pouring in 18 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in the win at Keystone.

ALL-AROUND
One of the most versatile players for the Lady Colonels, Connelly will look to be a major contributor on both ends of the floor again this season.

Connelly, the lone senior on this year's squad, will take a large leadership role for Wilkes in the backcourt. Connolly started in all 25 contests last season posting 10.2 points and 5.4 rebounds while shooting 85 percent (91-107) from the charity stripe.

She possesses the ability to break down defenders and create scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates. She is averaging 4.0 points and 2.5 rebounds thus far this season.

RUNNING THE POINT
A 23-game starter as a sophomore last year, Pawlowski returns to the point for the Lady Colonels this year.

Pawlowski registered six assists at PSU Hazleton and six more helpers in the win at Keystone on Thursday. For the season, she is averaging 3.0 points, 4.0 assists and 3.0 rebounds in 25.5 minutes per-contest.

Print Friendly Version