Wilkes University Athletics

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Chelsea Smelas scored a career high 10 points vs. FDU on Saturday

SECOND HALF SURGE STYMIES LADY COLONELS UPSET BID OF #9 FDU-FLORHAM

1/25/2014 4:53:00 PM

Box Score

SECOND HALF SURGE STYMIES LADY COLONELS UPSET BID OF #9 FDU-FLORHAM

WILKES-BARRE – FDU-Florham ranked 9^th in the Nation snubbed any Lady Colonels upset bid in the second half as they outscored Wilkes by eight points in the final 20 minutes of the game en route to a 71-59 conference win.

With the loss Wilkes falls to (4-12, 1-5) while FDU-Florham improves to a perfect (17-0, 6-0).

The Lady Colonels stormed out early to an 11-5 lead thanks in part to quality shot attempts and fast break points off of FDU turnovers. The Lady Colonels were hot from 3-point land as they nailed three out of four to start the game and led 21-16 with 10:45 left after Haley Mesaros (Royersford, PA/Pope John Paul II) hit a 3-point shot. If it was not for the reigning Freedom Conference player of the year playing for the Devils, Wilkes would have had a huge lead. After missing her first shot of the game Kyra Dayon went off putting on a shooting performance worth recognition as she made 8 of 9 shot attempts in the first half and scored 20 of her team's first 24 points. Dayon finished 4-5 from 3-point range finishing with 20 points and 6 steals for the first 20 minutes. Wilkes' very own Elena Stambone (Jessup, PA/Valley View) was matching Dayon shot-for-shot in the first half as she poured in 14 points on 5-7 shooting making all four 3-point attempts. Chelsea Smelas (Jim Thorpe, PA/Jim Thorpe) and Ellen Rich (Hamden, CT/Hamden Hall) also had a nice first half as they scored six points apiece for the Navy and Gold. Wilkes shot 50% from the field and trailed at halftime 37-33.

The second half opened up with both teams trading baskets back-and-forth with FDU holding onto a four point lead at the midway point of the half. A Chelsea Brown (Garnet Valley, PA/Garnet Valley) layup with 8:42 remaining cut the Devils lead to two at 54-52. After Shalette Brown made two foul shots for FDU to make it 56-52, the Lady Colonels were unable to score on their next possession. Alyssa McDonough then nailed a dagger 3-pointer to extend the Devils lead to 59-52 with 7:44 remaining on the clock. FDU extended the lead to 13 with 2:11 remaining on a Dayon jumper. Wilkes cut the lead to eight with a minute to play but ultimately fell short in the end as they fell respectfully 71-59 to the 9^th best team in the country.

Stambone finished with 22 points nailing five 3-pointers, Brown tallied another double-double as she scored 13 points and grabbed 10 boards. Smelas scored a career high 10 points while snagging four boards. Smelas made a lot of tough shots and was a tough matchup with her versatility on the offensive end.

The Lady Colonels return to play on Wednesday evening when they host Eastern University in a Freedom Conference game. Tip-off is slated for 6:00 p.m.

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