Steve Finkernagel

WILKES WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GAME NOTES VS. KING’S

1/17/2012 9:00:00 AM

(Complete Game Notes)

WILKES WOMEN'S BASKETBALL GAME NOTES VS. KING'S

Wilkes Lady Colonels (4-10, 0-4) vs. King's Lady Monarchs(12-3, 4-0)
Wednesday, January 18, 2012 - 6:00 p.m.
Wilkes-Barre, Pa. / Scandlon Gymnasium

Live Stats

Live Audio (ESPN Williamsport/Play-By-Play: Trevor Turner)

AT A GLANCE
Wilkes University continues their Freedom Conference slate with a road contest at cross-town rival King's College. Last season the Lady Monarchs defeated the Lady Colonels twice (89-72 and 76-35). Tip-off is scheduled at 6:00 p.m. at the Scandlon Gymnasium.

LAST TIME OUT
Junior guard Megan Kazmerski (Kingston, PA/Holy Redeemer) poured in a career-high 27 points and grabbed eight rebounds, but host Manhattanville College saw four players reach double figures posting an 80-53 Freedom victory over Wilkes University Saturday afternoon at Kennedy Gymnasium.

Wilkes opened with an offensive fury scoring the game's first eight points and led 16-2 after six minutes of play. Kazmerski scored 11 of her career-high 27 tallies, hitting three three-pointers and a driving layup to key the early surge for the Lady Colonels. Manhattanville slowly chipped away at the Lady Colonel lead using an 11-0 run midway through the first frame to tie the game at 19 all with 7:35 left in the half. Another trey from Kazmerski put Wilkes back on top 22-19, but the lead was short lived as the Valiants scored eight straight points to end the half with a 32-27 advantage.

Manhattanville used the momentum of the late run in the first half to take command of the contest in the second stanza. An 8-0 run over the first six minutes of the second half gave the Valiants a comfortable 13-point lead at 46-33 with 13:11 to play. Wilkes was unable to find any type of offensive rhythm in the second half shooting just 26.7 percent (8-for-30) from the field as the Manhattanville advantage grew to as many as 30 points late in the frame.

Kazmerski was the lone Lady Colonel to reach double figures shooting 9-for-16 from the field and 4-for-7 from behind the arc. Elena Stambone (Jessup, PA/Valley View) and Chelsea Brown (Garnet Valley, PA/Garnet Valley) added six points each.

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 88 games and 62 starts under her belt. For the season, Connolly averages 8.9 ppg and 2.6 rpg shooting 79.7 percent (47-59) from the charity stripe.

Pawlowski, a junior captain, is also one of the most experienced Lady Colonels. Playing in 63 career games earning 62 starts, she has logged over 1,730 minutes on the court for Wilkes. Pawlowski is the floor general for Wilkes averaging 5.7 apg through fifteen contests.

THE SCORER
Kazmerski led the Lady Colonels in scoring as a freshman scoring 11.5 ppg in her 26.6 mpg of action, and 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 12.5 ppg and 5.7 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 27 points shooting 9-for-16 from the floor and 4-for-7 from beyond the arc in the loss against Manhattanville. She has hit double figures in scoring nine 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 9.5 ppg and 2.8 rpg starting all eleven contests at shooting guard for Wilkes. She poured in a season high 21 points in the loss against Centenary College.

She possesses the ability to break down defenders and create scoring opportunities for herself and her teammates. Connolly has hit 39.6 percent (38-96) of her shots from the field in 22.4 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 and Lycoming. For the season, she is averaging 4.2 points, 5.7 assists and 3.1 rebounds in a team-high 32.1 minutes per-contest.

ROOKIE RUNNING WILD
Stambone is off to a great start in a Wilkes uniform with 11.7 ppg and averages 2.5 rpg. She is shooting 33.0 percent (60-180) from the field and 26.0 percent (19-73) from three-point range in 20.9 mpg off the bench for the Lady Colonels. She has reached double figures in eight games, pouring in a career-high 19 points in the win over PSU Wilkes-Barre. Stambone finished with a team-high 22 points including three steals and two rebounds in a loss at Albright.

DYNAMIC FRONTCOURT DUO
Rookie forwards Allison Walsh (Dickson City, PA/Mid Valley) and Chelsea Brown (Garnet Valley, PA/Garnet Valley) have adjusted to the college game just fine as the duo has combine for 13.1 points and 13.8 rpg in the first fourteen Wilkes games of 2011-12.

Walsh is averaging 7.9 points and a team-best 7.3 rebounds earning thirteen starts this year. The freshman is shooting 44.6 percent (33-74) from the field scoring a majority of her points in the paint. Her 44 offensive rebounds leads the squad. Brown adds 5.2 points and 6.5 rebounds including 52 defensive boards.

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