WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University men's and women's basketball teams ring in the New Year with the start of the 2017 MAC Freedom schedule on Wednesday night. Both teams will welcome FDU-Florham to the Marts Center, with the women's game tipping off at 6:00 p.m. and the men's to follow at 8:00 p.m.
 
Fans can follows the action through live stats, live video or live audio at the links below.
 
Live Stats - (Women)

Live Stats - (Men)
 
Live Video
 
Live Audio (ESPN Williamsport: Chris Del Sordo, play-by-play)
 
The Wilkes women return to action for the first time in 25 days after posting an 80-40 victory on December 10^th against Clarks Summit University at the Marts Center. The Lady Colonels own a 4-6 overall record and winners of two straight heading into its first conference contest of the season.
 
Wilkes uses a balanced scoring attack on offense with seven players averaging five or more points in the teams' first ten games. Rookie Gianna Roberts (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke) tops the squad with 8.8 points and 4.9 rebounds. Haley Mesaros (Royersford, PA/Pope John Paul II) follows with 8.3 points and 3.6 rebounds while Ashley Caster (York, PA/Spring Grove) contributes 8.1 points and 4.9 rebounds.
 
As a team Wilkes averages 65.0 points per-game while allowing 67.2 points per-contest.
 
Four-time defending MAC Freedom champions FDU-Florham enters the game with a 9-2 overall record winners of seven straight games after a 67-60 victory over Catholic University on December 30^th.
 
The Devils have four players scoring in double figures led by Kendrea Williams' 18.5 points and 3.1 rebounds. Taiah Thornton follows with 13.9 points and 3.7 rebounds while Alyssa McDonough chips in 13.6 points and a team-high 7.1 rebounds. Rachel Groom rounds out the top scorers for FDU-Florham averaging 13.3 rebounds shooting 51.8 percent from the floor.
 
FDU-Florham averages 71.5 points per-game while yielding 60.8 points per-contest.
 
The Colonel men enter their conference opener with a 6-5 overall mark after recording an impressive 76-74 win over No. 15 Hope College on December 30^th in the consolation game of the Mount Union Classic Tournament.
 
Hot-shooting Marcus Robinson (Swedesboro, N.J./Kingsway Regional) leads the Wilkes offensive attack through the first eleven games averaging 17.0 points while shooting 40.6 percent (41-101) from behind the arc. For his performance at last week's tournament, Robinson was named MAC Freedom Men's Basketball Player of the Week. Connor Evans (Cicero, N.Y./Cicero-North Syracuse) follows with 12.7 points and a team-best 4.0 assists.
 
Wilkes is averaging 78.4 points per-game while holding opponents to 73.1 points per-contest.
 
FDU-Florham comes into the game with a 3-7 overall record losers of four straight games following a 65-49 setback against Yeshiva University on January 2^nd.
 
Donte Ali and Anthony Mitchell lead the Devils on offense averaging 11.6 and 10.9 points respectively. Ali also adds a team-high 8.4 rebounds while Mitchell tops the squad with 3.3 assists per-game.
 
FDU-Florham averages 66.0 points per-game while allowing 75.6 points per-outing through its first ten games of the season.