Steve Finkernagel

WOMEN’S BASKETBALL GAME NOTES VS. FDU-FLORHAM

2/7/2012 9:32:00 AM

(Complete Game Notes)

WOMEN'S BASKETBALL GAME NOTES VS. FDU-FLORHAM

Wilkes Lady Colonels (6-15, 1-9) vs. FDU-Florham Devils (10-11, 4-6)
Wednesday, February 8th, 2012 - 6:00 p.m.
Madison, NJ / Ferguson Recreation Center

Live Stats

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

AT A GLANCE
The Wilkes University women's basketball team is back in action Wednesday evening as the Lady Colonels travel to Madison, NJ to take on FDU-Florham in Freedom Conference play. The Devils defeated the Lady Colonels 57-49 in the teams' first meeting in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. on Jan. 21st.

LAST TIME OUT
The Wilkes women's basketball team defeated Manhattanville Saturday afternoon from the Marts Center to earn their first victory in the Freedom Conference, 89-74.

Manhattanville won the opening tip-off and were first to get on the board. Just a few seconds later Angela Palmerio (Telford, PA/Lansdale Catholic) knocked down a three-pointer to go up 3-2 with 19 and change left on the clock. Both teams went back and forth in the first half. With 9:56 to play a jumper by Ginny Edwards (Warrington, PA/Central Bucks South) tied the game up at 22 all. A layup by Allison Walsh (Dickson City, PA/Mid Valley) with 51 seconds allowed the Lady Colonels to go up by 11 at the half, 44-33.

In the second half Wilkes took control of the game. Elena Stambone (Jessup, PA/Valley View) got the Lady Colonels rolling on the right track as she knocked down back-to-back baskets to put Wilkes up 50-37 with 16:18 left in the game. With 13 minutes on the clock a jumper by Manhattanville's Leah Dagen pulled the Valiants within nine points of Wilkes, 54-45. Wilkes went on a 9-0 run to increase their lead to 16 points on the afternoon. The Valiants did as much as they could to get back into the game but the Lady Colonels were too strong down the stretch. Stambone drilled a shot beyond the arc with 2:45 left to seal the Lady Colonels first victory in the Freedom Conference.

Four Wilkes players put up double figures. Stambone led the way with 21 points and five assists. She shot 6-for-7 from the free-throw line. Walsh had 16 points while garnering seven rebounds off the glass.

Whitney Connolly (Liberty, PA/Liberty) posted 13 and Megan Kazmerski (Kingston, PA/Holy Redeemer) had 11 points on the afternoon. Ginny Edwards (Warrington, PA/Central Bucks South) (Warrington, PA/Central Bucks South) was the leader on the defensive end with eight rebounds.

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 95 games and 69 starts under her belt. For the season, Connolly averages 8.9 ppg and 3.0 rpg shooting 79.7 percent (63-79) from the charity stripe.

Pawlowski, a junior captain, is also one of the most experienced Lady Colonels. Playing in 70 career games earning 69 starts, she has logged over 1,930 minutes on the court for Wilkes. Pawlowski is the floor general for Wilkes averaging 5.0 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 12.3 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 8.9 ppg and 3.0 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 39.9 percent (61-153) of her shots from the field in 22.1 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 3.5 points, 5.0 assists and 2.7 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 12.5 ppg and averages 3.0 rpg. She is shooting 35.6 percent (99-278) from the field and 24.8 percent (27-109) from three-point range in 21.8 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 13.3 points and 14.6 rpg in the first twenty one Wilkes games of 2011-12.

Walsh is averaging 8.5 points and a team-best 8.3 rebounds earning twenty starts this year. The freshman is shooting 43.4 percent (56-129) from the field scoring a majority of her points in the paint. Her 62 offensive and 113 defensive rebounds leads the squad. Brown adds 4.8 points and 6.3 rebounds including 81 defensive boards.

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