Steve Finkernagel

Senior guard Whitney Connolly will play in her last home game Saturday against cross-town rival King's

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

2/17/2012 2:30:00 PM

(Complete Game Notes)

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

Wilkes Lady Colonels (6-18, 1-12) vs. King's Lady Monarchs (20-4, 12-1)
Saturday, February 18th, 2012 - 1:00 p.m.
Wilkes-Barre, Pa. / Marts Center

Live Stats

Live Audio: (Play-By-Play: Trevor Turner)

AT A GLANCE
Wilkes is back in action on Senior Day with a matchup against cross-town rival King's College in Freedom Conference play from the Marts Center. The Lady Monarchs defeated Wilkes 68-47 in the teams' first meeting at King's on January 18, 2012.

LAST TIME OUT
The Wilkes women's basketball team fell short against DeSales Tuesday evening from the Marts Center, 66-54.

There was back and forth momentum throughout the first half. With 11:18 on the clock two free throws by Whitney Connolly (Liberty, PA/Liberty) pulled Wilkes within two points of DeSales, 13-11. The Bulldogs took their largest lead of the night going up by 10 points with six and change left in the first stanza. With just seconds left on the clock Wilkes cut the deficit to two points. DeSales held a slight edge at the half, 29-27.

DeSales took control of the game during the second half. They jumped out early and went on a 12-0 run. Wilkes finally reached the scoring column seven minutes into the second frame. With 9:56 to play the Bulldogs held a 14 point advantage, 56-30. A layup by Chelsea Brown (Garnet Valley, PA/Garnet Valley) with just less than two minutes left in the game pulled Wilkes within nine points of DeSales, 62-53. The Bulldogs were too strong down stretch and closed out the game to earn their ninth Freedom Conference victory of the season. Three players reached double figures for Wilkes. Connolly posted 16, Allison Walsh (Dickson City, PA/Mid Valley) 14, and Elena Stambone (Jessup, PA/Valley View) with 11 points. Walsh also grabbed nine rebounds.

THE CAPTAINS
The Lady Colonels are captained by Sr. G Whitney Connolly (Liberty, PA/Liberty) 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 98 games and 72 starts under her belt. For the season, Connolly averages 8.9 ppg and 2.8 rpg shooting 80.4 percent (74-92) from the charity stripe.

Pawlowski, a junior captain, is also one of the most experienced Lady Colonels. Playing in 73 career games earning 72 starts, she has logged over 2,000 minutes on the court for Wilkes. Pawlowski is the floor general for Wilkes averaging 4.6 apg through twenty four 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 11.8 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 fifteen 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 8.9 ppg and 2.8 rpg starting all 24 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 38.3 percent (69-180) of her shots from the field in 22.5 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 has registered one 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, 4.6 assists and 2.5 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 12.0 ppg and averages 3.0 rpg. She is shooting 34.6 percent (108-312) from the field and 25.6 percent (31-121) from three-point range in 22.2 mpg off the bench for the Lady Colonels. She has reached double figures in fifteen 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 four Wilkes games of 2011-12.

Walsh is averaging 8.6 points and a team-best 8.6 rebounds earning twenty three starts this year. The freshman is shooting 43.9 percent (65-148) from the field scoring a majority of her points in the paint. Her 71 offensive and 136 defensive rebounds leads the squad. Brown adds 4.6 points and 6.3 rebounds including 95 defensive boards.

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