WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University women's basketball team is set to host the second annual Cross County Challenge on Friday and Saturday at the Marts Center.

The tournament features round robin play between Luzerne County schools Wilkes and King's against Lackawanna County schools Scranton and Marywood. Last season the Lackawanna County schools swept the challenge.

The action begins Friday when No. 19/13 Scranton faces King's at 6:00 p.m. Wilkes then plays Marywood at 8:00 p.m. Saturday's first game will feature Marywood against King's at 2:00 p.m. and the tournament concludes with Wilkes squaring off against Scranton at 4:00 p.m.

Ticket prices are $5 for adults, $3 for seniors, $2 for students (with ID), and free for children under six years of age.

Live stats, video, and audio for fans that are unable to attend the games are provided in the following links.

Live Stats

Live Video

Live Audio

The Lady Colonels enter the Cross County Challenge after dropping their season opener Wednesday night at Rutgers-Camden 83-54. Alyssa Alfano (Dunmore, PA/Holy Cross), Emily Sofranko (Jim Thorpe, PA/Marian Catholic), and Catey McFadden (Doylestown, PA/Archbishop Wood) each scored nine points. Gianna Roberts (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke) scored eight points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Nicole Farrell (Blairstown, NJ/North Warren) had six points and eight boards. Sofranko and Gabby Smicherko (Edwardsville, PA/Wyoming Valley West) dished out three assists apiece.

Wilkes got to the free-throw line 27 times Wednesday and were led by four makes apiece by Alfano and Roberts.

King's also opened its season Wednesday with a road game at Neumann University. The Lady Monarchs used a 27-16 third quarter in the 70-67 win behind 18 points and 11 rebounds from Rebecca Prociak. Olivia Hoffman was an Honorable Mention All-MAC Freedom selection last season and she put in 14 points and pulled down 12 rebounds against Neumann. Alexis Steeber contributed 16 points and four assists.

Marywood will open its 2017-18 season against Wilkes after going 18-9 overall and 14-2 in the Colonial States Athletic Conference last season. The Pacers lost in the first round of the Eastern College Athletic Conference Tournament to New York University. They return their top-four scorers led by Gab Giordano who averaged 12.9 points as a sophomore when she earned First Team All-CSAC honors. Natasha Hessling was Second Team All-CSAC last season after averaging 10.8 points and 6.8 rebounds.
 
Scranton opens its season against King's and is ranked No. 13 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association preseason poll and No. 19 in the D3hoops.com preseason poll. The Lady Royals lost four of their top-five scorers from a team that went 26-4 overall and made it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA Tournament last season. Two seasons ago Scranton reached the Elite Eight and have won the past two Landmark Conference championships. Bridgette Mann was second on the team averaging 13.6 points last season and has started all 61 games of her collegiate career.