ASTON, Pa. – The Wilkes University women's basketball team dropped its season-opener at the Neumann Tournament to Neumann University by a 79-68 final on Friday night.

The Lady Colonels fell to 0-1 with the loss.

Wilkes got off to a fast start, using a three-pointer by Catey McFadden (Doylestown, PA/Archbishop Wood) and a layup and jumper from Cara Basile (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) as part of a 7-0 run to start the game.
After the Knights cut the lead to five, Jamie Campbell (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) converted a layup to push Wilkes' lead to a game-high 13 points to make the score 17-4, capping off an 8-0 run for the Lady Colonels with 3:22 remaining in the first quarter. The two teams would exchange baskets until Neumann hit a jump shot to make the score 22-13, which is how the quarter ended.

The two teams traded baskets to begin the second quarter, until Emily Sofranko (Jim Thorpe, PA/Marian Catholic) hit both free throws to complete a 6-0 run for Wilkes, making the score 31-19 with 6:21 remaining in the first half.

Neumann concluded the first half on a 17-8 run to cut the Lady Colonel lead to 39-36 at halftime.

Wilkes pushed its lead to six in the third quarter, but the Knights would tie the game at 52 with 1:25 remaining in the third quarter, and the Lady Colonels finished the quarter with a 56-54 lead.

Both teams missed their first shot of the fourth quarter, however, Neumann tied the game at 56 following a layup. Following that layup, the Knights went on a 12-0 run spanning 3:35 to make the score 68-56 with 5:24 left in the game. Neumann's lead would not fall below seven points the rest of the way as the Knights secured the 11 point victory.

The Lady Colonels were led by Basile, who recorded 18 points aided by a perfect 12-12 showing at the free throw line. Basile missed a double-double by one layup, finishing with nine. She was joined in double-figures by McFadden, who also just missed a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds, and Jamie Campbell (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson), who finished with 12 points.

Neumann was led by JoHanna Metzger's 26 points and 12 rebounds, with Sarah Roberts contributing 11 points.

Wilkes held a 14-9 advantage in second chance points.

The Lady Colonels return to the floor tomorrow afternoon for the finale of the Neumann Tournament, where they will play either Albright or Lancaster Bible College.