LADY COLONELS SET FOR R1 BLUE JAY CLASSIC THIS WEEKEND

12/8/2011 10:55:00 AM

LADY COLONELS SET FOR R1 BLUE JAY CLASSIC THIS WEEKEND

Wilkes Lady Colonels (4-3) at R1 Sports Blue Jay Classic
Friday-Saturday, December 9-10, 2011
Elizabethtown, PA / Thompson Gymnasium

Live Audio

AT A GLANCE
Wilkes returns to the court this weekend when the Lady Colonels travel to Elizabethtown, Pa. to play in the R1 Blue Jay Classic. Wilkes faces Penn State Harrisburg Friday at 7:00 p.m. then have a quick turnaround Saturday when they face the host Elizabethtown College at 2:00 p.m. The Lady Colonels dropped a 94-57 decision against the Blue jays last season in the same event.

LAST TIME OUT
Megan Kazmerski (Kingston, PA/Holy Redeemer) (Kingston, PA/Holy Redeemer) poured in 22 points including a 5-for-10 performance from behind the three-point line as the Wilkes University women's basketball team posted a 76-56 win over Landmark Conference member Susquehanna University Wednesday evening at the Marts Center.

Within the opening minutes of the first half Wilkes jumped out to an 8-0 lead with 18:44 left to play as Kazmerksi put up her second three-pointer on the night. The Lady Colonels extended the lead to 18-6 with 11:18 remaining after a steal and score from Amanda Pawlowski (Nanticoke, PA/Holy Redeemer) (Nanticoke, PA/Holy Redeemer). The advantage grew to as many as 18 points in the first frame as Wilkes took a 35-17 lead into the break.

Both Wilkes and Susquehanna went back and forth exchanging points to start the second half. With 13:46 left to play, Wilkes garnered their biggest lead of the night up by as many as 35 points. A Crusaders' jumper from Jennifer Montan cut the lead to 16 with three minutes remaining, but Wilkes went on a 6-0 run to close the game out to secure their fourth win on the year.

Kazmerski was efficient shooting from the field finishing 8-for-17 while also grabbing nine rebounds, three assists, two steals, and one block. Elena Stambone (Jessup, PA/Valley View) (Jessup, PA/Valley View) followed with 13 points and three rebounds, while Allison Walsh (Dickson City, PA/Mid Valley) (Dickson City, PA/Mid Valley) chipped in 11 points. Pawlowski and Whitney Connolly (Liberty, PA/Liberty) (Liberty, PA/Liberty) each added six points on the night. Pawlowski continued her fine floor play finishing with a game-high eight assists.

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

Connolly brings her all-around game back to the Lady Colonels for her final season, as she has 81 games and 55 starts under her belt. For the season, Connolly averages 7.7 ppg and 2.3 rpg shooting 76.9 percent (20-26) from the charity stripe.

Pawlowski, a junior captain, is also one of the most experienced Lady Colonels. Playing in 56 career games earning 55 starts, she has logged over 1,585 minutes on the court for Wilkes. Pawlowski is the floor general for Wilkes averaging 5.7 apg through seven contests.

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 this season averaging 12.7 ppg and 5.9 rpg. She registered her first double-double of the year pouring in 18 points and grabbing 12 rebounds in the win at Keystone. Kazmerski posted a season-high 22 points shooting 8-for-17 from the floor and 5-for-10 from beyond the arc in the victory against Susquehanna. She has hit double figures in scoring four times this season.

ALL-AROUND
One of the most versatile players for the Lady Colonels, Connelly has been a major contributor on both ends of the floor this season.

Connelly, the lone senior on this year's squad, has taken a large leadership role for Wilkes in the backcourt. She averages 7.7 ppg and 2.3 rpg starting all seven contests at shooting guard for Wilkes. She possesses the ability to break down defenders and create scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates. Connolly has hit 37.8 percent (17-45) of her shots from the field in 19.3 mpg.

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

Pawlowski registered three or more assists in every contest thus far this season for Wilkes including a season-high eight helpers against Susquehanna. For the season, she is averaging 3.6 points, 5.7 assists and 2.3 rebounds in a team-high 26.6 minutes per-contest.

ROOKIE RUNNING WILD
Stambone is off to a great start in a Wilkes uniform topping the squad with 12.9 ppg and 1.7 rpg. She is shooting 40.0 percent (34-85) from the field and 32.4 percent (12-37) from three-point range in 18.6 mpg off the bench for the Lady Colonels.

She has reached double figures in five games, pouring in a career-high 19 points in the win over PSU Wilkes-Barre. Stambone finished with a team-high 15 points including two treys in the loss at DeSales, her first career Freedom road contest.

DYNAMIC FRONTCOURT DUO
Rookie forwards Alison Walsh and Chelsea Brown (Garnet Valley, PA/Garnet Valley) have adjusted to the college game just fine as the duo has combine for 12.3 points and 12.2 rpg in the first seven Wilkes games of 2011-12.

Walsh is averaging 7.3 points and 6.0 rebounds earning six starts this year. The freshman is shooting 46.2 percent (18-39) from the field scoring a majority of her points in the paint. Her 23 offensive rebounds leads the squad. Brown adds 5.0 points and a team-best 6.1 rebounds including 29 defensive.

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