Men's Basketball 1/13/2015 1:12:00 PM

Wilkes Basketball Returns to Freedom Conference Play at Misericordia

Wilkes Basketball Returns to Freedom Conference Play at Misericordia

WILKES-BARRE – With the start of the new semester it means that Freedom Conference play starts full tilt for both the men's and women's teams at Wilkes. The two squads head to the Back Mountain Wednesday evening where they will do battle with the Cougars of Misericordia University.

The women's game will begin at 6:00 p.m. followed by the men at 8:00 p.m. Live Stats, live video and live audio will be available for both games at the following links.

Live Stats (women)

Live Stats (men)

Live Video

Live Audio

The Wilkes men's squad is 7-6 on the season and sits tied atop the Freedom Conference with a perfect 2-0 record after wins against Manhattanville and Eastern in the fall semester. The Colonels snapped a five-game losing skid with a 78-53 win over Penn State Wilkes-Barre in their last game. Wilkes and Misericordia split their two games last season with Wilkes winning a thrilling 72-70 overtime game at home, before falling 72-61 on the road in Dallas, Pa.

Wilkes offensively averages a Freedom Conference best 74.8 points per-game while shooting an efficient 44.9 percent from the floor. They average 9.4 three-pointers per-game while making 34.8 percent of their attempts. The Colonels share the ball well on offense as they dish out 14.7 assists per-game. On defense the Colonels are allowing 71.7 points per-game with opponents shooting 46.7 percent from the field. Teams are making 37.1 percent of their 3-point attempts while turning the ball over 12.8 times per-game.

Steve Stravinski (Pittston, PA/Pittston) continues to lead the Freedom Conference in scoring with 16.7 points per-game while also leading the league with 47 made 3-point attempts. Alec Wizar (Lebanon, PA/Annville Cleona) is the second leading scorer for the Colonels and third overall in the league with his 16.2 points per-game. Wizar is second in the league and team with 36 made 3-pointers to go along with 2.4 assists per-game. Zachary Brunner (Mechanicsburg, PA/Mechanicsburg) is averaging 13.2 points and 6.6 boards per-game in his rookie season. Brunner leads the league in field goal percentage making 62.8 percent of his shot attempts. Tyler Jackson (Cresskill, NJ/Cresskill) leads the team with 4.1 assists per-game running the point while Cameron Hinkel (Millerstown, PA/Greenwood) continues to fill out the stat sheet: Hinkel is averaging 6.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 2.6 assists per-game while leading the team with 12 blocked shots.

Misericordia boasts a 9-4 overall record and sit tied for third with a 1-1 Freedom Conference record. They defeated FDU-Florham 81-72 before falling to DeSales 60-59 to open up conference play back in early December. The Cougars have been idle since defeating Arcadia 71-68 on January 5.

Misericordia is averaging 64.2 points per-game while shooting 43.3 percent from the field. The Cougars are the best defensive team statistically speaking in the Freedom as they are only giving up 58.8 points per-game. Teams shoot only 38.1 percent from the field and 27.2 percent from deep against the Cougars.

Steve Ware carries the team on offense and the boards. The senior forward is averaging 14.2 points and 7.4 rebounds per-game. Joe Busacca chips in with 12 points, 2.9 boards and 2.8 assists per-game. Griffin Sponaugle is averaging 9.1 points per-game and is their best 3-point shooter having made 26 on the season.

On the women's side the Lady Colonels sit tied with King's for fourth place in the Freedom Conference with a 1-1 record. They are 5-5 overall on the season and are looking to snap a three-game losing streak. Last year the Lady Colonels fell at home to the Cougars 66-56 before picking up a road victory in the re-match 66-52.

Wilkes is averaging 66.1 points per-game this season however have struggled to shoot the ball making only 37.7 percent of their shot attempts. They are making 31.6 percent of their three-point attempts but only 59.8 percent of their foul shots. Wilkes dishes out 13.9 assists, while turning it over 17.2 times per-game. Defensively the lady Colonels are giving up 65.9 points per-game and holding opponents to shooting 40.4 percent from the field. Teams are making only 25.1 percent of their three-point attempts while committing 22.3 turnovers per-game.

Elena Stambone (Jessup, PA/Valley View) leads Wilkes with 16.7 points per-game which is good for fourth best in the Freedom Conference. Chelsea Brown (Garnet Valley, PA/Garnet Valley) is second with 11.9 points and first in rebounding with 8.2 boards per-game. Brown also leads the team in blocked shots with 14. Cara Basile (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) is making 46.3 percent of her shots and 9.6 points per-game good for third best on the team.

The Cougars are looking to notch their first win of the season as they are 0-13 overall and 0-2 in the league. Misericordia is averaging a Freedom Conference low 56.3 points while giving up the most points per-game at 70.5. Misericordia is shooting 35.7 percent from the field and 24.2 percent from deep while allowing its opponents to shoot 41.6 percent from the field and 24.8 percent from distance. The Cougars have turned the ball over 20.4 times per-game while forcing 16.7 turnovers on defense.

Justine Seely leads the Cougars with 12.2 points and 9.3 boards per-game. Lauren Smicherko is second on the team in scoring with 11.4 to go along with 4.7 boards and 2.3 assists per-game. Shelby Brochetti is the third leading scorer for the Cougars putting up 9.8 per-game while making a team-high ten three-pointers.

Wilkes continues its road conference stretch Saturday playing a Freedom doubleheader at Delaware Valley College. The women tip at 1:00 p.m. with the men's game to follow at 3:00 p.m. in Doylestown, Pa.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#11 Cara Basile: G; 5' 9"; Junior

#33 Chelsea Brown: G/F; 5' 10"; Senior

#10 Elena Stambone: G; 5' 8"; Senior

#15 Cameron Hinkel: G; 6' 2"; Senior

#3 Tyler Jackson: G; 5' 8"; Sophomore

#20 Steve Stravinski: G/F; 6' 3"; Junior

#11 Alec Wizar: G; 6' 0"; Junior

#33 Zach Brunner: F; 6' 4"; First Year

Players Mentioned

#11 Cara Basile
: 5' 9"; Junior
: G

#33 Chelsea Brown
: 5' 10"; Senior
: G/F

#10 Elena Stambone
: 5' 8"; Senior
: G

#15 Cameron Hinkel
: 6' 2"; Senior
: G

#3 Tyler Jackson
: 5' 8"; Sophomore
: G

#20 Steve Stravinski
: 6' 3"; Junior
: G/F

#11 Alec Wizar
: 6' 0"; Junior
: G

#33 Zach Brunner
: 6' 4"; First Year
: F