Steve Finkernagel

Wilkes hosts King's in both teams' Freedom Conference finales Saturday at the Marts Center; Women at 1, Men at 3

WILKES BASKETBALL TEAMS HOST CROSS-TOWN RIVAL KING’S SATURDAY IN SEASON FINALE

2/21/2014 1:40:00 PM

WILKES BASKETBALL TEAMS HOST CROSS-TOWN RIVAL KING'S SATURDAY IN SEASON FINALE

WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University men's and women's basketball teams will conclude the 2013-14 season hosting cross-town rival King's College Saturday in a Freedom Conference doubleheader finale at the Marts Center.

The women's game will tip-off at 1:00 p.m. with the men's game to follow at 3:00 p.m. Both teams will honor their senior members prior to their respective contests.

There are several events schedule for Saturday's basketball games listed below:

Brain Cancer Awareness – King's Women's Coach Brian Donoghue, is battling brain cancer. Coach Donoghue's family has benefitted greatly from the efforts of several Division III colleges and universities that have had a "Play Gray" game. There will be a Brain Cancer Awareness table set up outside of the gymnasium doors. Please consider making a small donation to help Coach Donoghue and his family.

Women's Basketball Pink Game - There will be pink t-shirts for sale. All proceeds will benefit the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Canned Food Drive - There will be a can collection area for the SAAC's food drive that will benefit St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in Wilkes-Barre.

Live stats, live video and live audio will be available for both games at the links below:

Live Stats (women's game)

Live Stats (men's game)

Live Video

Live Audio (ESPN Williamsport: Zach Barlage, play-by-play)

The Wilkes women enter the season finale with a 5-19 overall mark standing 2-11 in Freedom games. The Lady Colonels will be looking for their first win at home during the 2013-14 campaign (0-8). Freedom Conference leading scorer Elena Stambone (Jessup, PA/Valley View) tops the Wilkes offensive attack averaging 19.4 points and 3.8 rebounds connecting on 57 three-pointers. Chelsea Brown (Garnet Valley, PA/Garnet Valley) follows with 11.6 points and a team-high 9.1 rebounds playing in all 24 games this season for Wilkes. Ellen Rich (Hamden, CT/Hamden Hall) anchors the middle averaging 4.4 points, 7.4 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per-game. Wilkes averages 54.1 points per-game while yielding 62.5 points per-contest.

The King's women (7-17 overall, 3-10 Freedom) enter the contest winners of two straight including victories over Manhattanville and DeSales. Marissa Manning leads the Lady Monarch attack averaging 14.0 points and 6.9 rebounds. Kayla Feairheller follows with 12.8 points and 6.0 rebounds, while Jennifer Fabian chips in 10.8 points and a team-high 8.5 rebounds. King's averages 62.2 points on offense and allows 72.8 points defensively through 24 games.

The Colonels enter their season finale with an 8-15 overall record standing 3-10 in league play. The trio of Alec Wizar (Lebanon, PA/Annville Cleona), Steve Stravinski (Pittston, PA/Pittston) and Pat Furst (Jamison, PA/Central Bucks West) have led Wilkes in scoring all season. Wizar averages 13.9 points connecting on 58 three-pointers (37.7 percent). Stravinski averages 11.5 points and 5.4 rebounds drilling a team-best 61 three-pointers (37.0 percent). Furst contributes 10.9 points and 5.1 rebounds shooting over 51.0 percent from the floor this season. Wilkes averages 67.9 points offensively, while allowing 70.2 points per-game.

King's men enter the game standing 13-11 overall and 6-7 in league play. Kyle Hammons tops the Monarch's offense averaging 17.0 points and 4.9 rebounds. Joe Caffrey follows with 13.9 points and 4.3 rebounds hitting 33 three-pointers. Dan Rutecki chips in 11.4 points and 5.9 rebounds. King's averages 74.7 points per-game, while yielding 69.8 points per-contest.

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