Steve Finkernagel

The Lady Colonels look for their first Freedom victory Saturday against Manhattanville

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GAME NOTES VS. MANHATTANVILLE

2/3/2012 9:38:00 AM

(Complete Game Notes)

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL GAME NOTES VS. MANHATTANVILLE

Wilkes Lady Colonels (5-15, 0-9) vs. Manhattanville Valiants (6-13, 1-8)
Saturday, February 4th, 2012 - 1:00 p.m.
Wilkes-Barre, Pa. / Marts Center

Live Stats

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

AT A GLANCE
Wilkes University is back on the court this Saturday as they host Manhattanville College at the Marts Center in Freedom Conference play. The Valiants defeated the Lady Colonels 80-53 in the teams' first meeting in Purchase, NY on Jan. 14th.

LAST TIME OUT
The Wilkes women basketball team suffered a 61-45 loss at local Freedom rival Misericordia University Wednesday evening from the Anderson Center.

Both teams were neck and neck within the opening minutes of the game. With fifteen minutes left in the first half Misericordia had a lead of 10-7 over Wilkes. The Cougars went on a 5-0 run to go up 22-10 led by Jesse Robinson with 10:36 remaining on the clock. A three-pointer by Elena Stambone (Jessup, PA/Valley View) cut the deficit for Wilkes to nine points, 27-18. The Cougars closed out the first half on a 4-0 to go up 31-19.

The second half was all Misericordia and the Cougars never looked back. The lead would grow to 20 points with 15:58 left, 45-25. Wilkes did everything they could to get back into the contest but the Cougars were too strong down the stretch. A layup by Megan Kazmerski (Kingston, PA/Holy Redeemer) with 23 seconds left got Wilkes within 18 points but Misericordia finished the game strong as they earned their seventh conference victory.

Allison Walsh (Dickson City, PA/Mid Valley) led the way for Wilkes as she posted a double-double (13 points and 11 rebounds). Walsh was 7-for-10 from the free-throw line. Stambone had 11 points on the night with four rebounds
and two 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 94 games and 68 starts under her belt. For the season, Connolly averages 8.7 ppg and 2.9 rpg shooting 78.4 percent (58-74) from the charity stripe.

Pawlowski, a junior captain, is also one of the most experienced Lady Colonels. Playing in 69 career games earning 68 starts, she has logged over 1,900 minutes on the court for Wilkes. Pawlowski is the floor general for Wilkes averaging 5.0 apg through twenty 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 12.4 ppg and 5.6 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 thirteen 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 8.7 ppg and 2.9 rpg starting all fifteen 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 38.8 percent (57-147) of her shots from the field in 22.0 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 3.6 points, 5.0 assists and 2.8 rebounds in a team-high 31.9 minutes per-contest.

ROOKIE RUNNING WILD
Stambone is off to a great start in a Wilkes uniform averaging 12.1 ppg and 3.0 rpg. She is shooting 35.0 percent (92-263) from the field and 25.0 percent (26-104) from three-point range in 21.6 mpg off the bench for the Lady Colonels.

She has reached double figures in thirteen games, pouring in a career-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 12.7 points and 14.8 rpg in the first twenty Wilkes games of 2011-12.

Walsh is averaging 8.1 points and a team-best 8.4 rebounds earning nineteen starts this year. The freshman is shooting 40.3 percent (48-119) from the field scoring a majority of her points in the paint. Her 61 offensive and 107 defensive rebounds leads the squad. Brown adds 4.6 points and 6.4 rebounds including 80 defensive boards.

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