Steve Finkernagel

Senior Whitney Connolly and the Lady Colonels travel to Eastern Saturday for a Freedom matchup at 1:00 p.m.

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GAME NOTES VS. EASTERN

2/10/2012 11:22:00 AM

(Complete Game Notes)

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL GAME NOTES VS. EASTERN

Wilkes Lady Colonels (6-16, 1-10) vs. Eastern Eagles (16-6, 7-4)
Saturday, February 11, 2012 - 1:00 p.m.
St. Davids, Pa. / Eagles Gymnasium

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AT A GLANCE
Wilkes University is back on the court Saturday as they travel to St. Davids, Pa. to take on Eastern University in Freedom Conference play. The Eagles defeated the Lady Colonels 72-52 in the teams' first meeting in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. on Jan. 25th.

LAST TIME OUT
The Wilkes women's basketball came up short on the road Wednesday evening against FDU-Florham 55-50 from the Ferguson Recreation Center.

It was a battle within the opening minutes of the game on the court for the two teams. The Devils won the tip-off but were unable to get on the board first. A layup by Allison Walsh (Dickson City, PA/Mid Valley) got the Lady Colonels the first bucket of evening with 18:04 left on the clock. Wilkes jumped out to a 9-2 lead with twelve minutes and change left in the half. The Devils went on a 7-0 run started by Kamryn Thompson. FDU-Florham got back into the game, as they were down 13-10 with 8:29 to play. With less than four minutes left in the first half Wilkes was up by two, 16-14. At the two minute marker the Lady Colonels went up 21-14 as Elena Stambone (Jessup, PA/Valley View) knocked down a three-pointer to give Wilkes their largest lead of the night. FDU-Florham went on a 4-0 run to close out the first stanza. At the half Wilkes held a slight edge, 22-18.

FDU-Florham went on a 5-0 run to open the second half of play to go up by one, 23-22. Wilkes took back the lead, 25-22 with 18 minutes left on the clock. For the rest of the second half both teams were neck and neck. With eleven minutes left in the game the Devils were up by five over the Lady Colonels, 36-31. FDU-Florham took their largest lead of ten points on the night as held a 44-34 lead.

Wilkes never back downed and got right back into the game. The Lady Colonels went on a 6-0 run to cut the deficit to just one point. A jumper by Walsh got Wilkes even closer to FDU-Florham, 48-47. As the clock read thirty seconds left in action it was FDU-Florham 52 and Wilkes 47. A shot by Whitney Connolly (Liberty, PA/Liberty) with 11 seconds left in the game got Wilkes even closer as they were down 53-50. The Devils were able to hold off the Lady Colonels 55-50 to secure their fifth Freedom victory.

Walsh led the way for Wilkes with nine points on the evening while garnering 12 rebounds off the glass. Three players posted eight points. Megan Kazmerski (Kingston, PA/Holy Redeemer) (eight points, five rebounds), Angela Palmerio (Telford, PA/Lansdale Catholic) (eight points, three rebounds, and two assists), and Connolly (eight points, one rebound).

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 96 games and 70 starts under her belt. For the season, Connolly averages 8.8 ppg and 2.9 rpg shooting 79.3 percent (65-82) from the charity stripe.

Pawlowski, a junior captain, is also one of the most experienced Lady Colonels. Playing in 71 career games earning 70 starts, she has logged over 1,960 minutes on the court for Wilkes. Pawlowski is the floor general for Wilkes averaging 4.9 apg through twenty one 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 12.1 ppg and 5.5 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 fourteen 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 8.8 ppg and 2.9 rpg starting all sixteen 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 39.0 percent (64-164) of her shots from the field in 22.3 mpg.

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

Pawlowski has 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 3.5 points, 4.9 assists and 2.6 rebounds in a team-high 31.8 minutes per-contest.

ROOKIE RUNNING WILD
Stambone is off to a great start in a Wilkes uniform with 12.2 ppg and averages 3.1 rpg. She is shooting 34.8 percent (101-290) from the field and 25.0 percent (28-112) from three-point range in 22.0 mpg off the bench for the Lady Colonels. She has reached double figures in thriteen games, pouring in a career-high 22 points including three steals and two rebounds in a loss at Albright. In the win against Manhattanville she posted 21 points and added five assists.

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 13.2 points and 14.9 rpg in the first twenty two Wilkes games of 2011-12.

Walsh is averaging 8.5 points and a team-best 8.5 rebounds earning twenty one starts this year. The freshman is shooting 43.4 percent (59-136) from the field scoring a majority of her points in the paint. Her 65 offensive and 122 defensive rebounds leads the squad. Brown adds 4.7 points and 6.4 rebounds including 88 defensive boards.

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