Steve Finkernagel

WILKES WOMEN’S BASKETBALL BACK ON COURT AT CENTENARY FOLLOWING 24-DAY LAYOFF

1/3/2012 10:14:00 AM

(Complete Game Notes)

WILKES WOMEN'S BASKETBALL BACK ON COURT AT CENTENARY FOLLOWING 24-DAY LAYOFF

Wilkes Lady Colonels (4-5) vs. Centenary Cyclones (7-4)
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Hackettstown, NJ / Folkner Family Gymnasium

AT A GLANCE
Wilkes returns to the court after a 24-day layoff when the Lady Colonels travel to Hackettstown, N.J. to face Centenary College. This will mark the first meeting between the two schools. Wilkes is coming off an 0-2 performance at the R1 Blue Jay Classic with losses against Penn State Harrisburg 76-70 (2OT) and the host Elizabethtown 68-57 on December 9th and 10th.

LAST TIME OUT
The Wilkes University women's basketball team dropped their second game of the R1 Blue Jay Classic from Thompson Gymnasium Saturday afternoon against host Elizabethtown College, 68-57.

In the first half the Lady Colonels and Blue Jays went back and forth exchanging points. With 8:51 remaining Elizabethtown went up 24-19 as their lead increased to five. Wilkes notched it up at 30 all with a layup by Elena Stambone (Jessup, PA/Valley View) as 4:00 minutes remained on the clock. The Blue Jays took a 35-32 lead with just 1:16 left. A free-throw by Allison Walsh (Dickson City, PA/Mid Valley) tied it up at 35 all with :53 seconds left in the half. Heading into halftime it was 35 apiece.

The second half was a much different game than the first. With just under fifteen minutes left Elizabethtown held a 45-37 advantage using a 5-0 run. With 6:53 left on the clock the Blue Jays held their biggest lead of the afternoon going up 20. The lady Colonels cut the deficit to 12, as it was a 67-55 Blue Jay advantage with 1:49 left. Elizabethtown finished the afternoon off by defeating Wilkes 68-57.

For Wilkes, Walsh had her second consecutive double-double on the year as she posted 11 total points and 14 rebounds, eight defensive and six offensive. Ginny Edwards (Warrington, PA/Central Bucks South) had 11 points on the afternoon.

Both Amanda Pawlowski (Nanticoke, PA/Holy Redeemer) and Megan Kazmerski (Kingston, PA/Holy Redeemer) had three assists each in the game. Walsh and Pawlowski were named to the All-Classic Team.

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 83 games and 57 starts under her belt. For the season, Connolly averages 7.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg shooting 76.5 percent (26-34) from the charity stripe.

Pawlowski, a junior captain, is also one of the most experienced Lady Colonels. Playing in 58 career games earning 57 starts, she has logged over 1,625 minutes on the court for Wilkes. Pawlowski is the floor general for Wilkes averaging 5.6 apg through nine 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 a team-best 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 five 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 7.8 ppg and 2.4 rpg starting all nine 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 33.8 percent (22-65) of her shots from the field in 20.7 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 3.8 points, 5.6 assists and 2.7 rebounds in a team-high 29.2 minutes per-contest.

ROOKIE RUNNING WILD
Stambone is off to a great start in a Wilkes uniform second on the squad with 12.3 ppg and 2.1 rpg. She is shooting 35.3 percent (41-116) from the field and 30.6 percent (15-49) from three-point range in 20.4 mpg off the bench for the Lady Colonels.

She has reached double figures in six 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 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 13.0 points and 14.7 rpg in the first nine Wilkes games of 2011-12.

Walsh is averaging 8.1 points and a team-best 7.9 rebounds earning eight starts this year. The freshman is shooting 41.5 percent (22-53) from the field scoring a majority of her points in the paint. Her 33 offensive rebounds leads the squad. Brown adds 4.9 points and 6.9 rebounds including 38 defensive boards.

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