WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University women's basketball team fell 77-44 against No. 25 Juniata College in non-conference action at the Marts Center Saturday afternoon.

Wilkes is now 3-6 while Juniata stayed unbeaten and moved to 8-0 on the season.

Chelsea Erkes (Wernersville, PA/Conrad Weiser) nailed a three-point shot 1:53 into the game to give the Lady Colonels the early 3-1 lead. Gianna Roberts (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke) would put Wilkes back ahead 5-4 with a jumper with 6:09 left in the first quarter before the Eagles would finish the quarter on a 15-4 run to lead 19-9 after 10 minutes of action.

The Lady Colonels started the second quarter by getting out in transition after a nice pass from Emily Sofranko (Jim Thorpe, PA/Marian Catholic) went to Alyssa Alfano (Dunmore, PA/Holy Cross) for the open lay in to make the score 19-11.

Juniata's first-half lead would grow to as many as 24 points at 39-15 before Wilkes went on an 8-2 run to close the half trailing 41-23. Amber Grohowski (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke) got things started with a steal and layup with 2:21 left in the second quarter. Alfano followed with an and-one play when she made a layup and the ensuing free-throw for taking contact. Maddie Kelley (Dallas, PA/Dallas)'s jumper from the right-wing closed out the second quarter scoring with 37 seconds left.

The Lady Colonels run continued at the start of the third quarter as they cut the 24-point lead down to 12. Gabby Smicherko (Edwardsville, PA/Wyoming Valley West) made a short jumper in the lane to start a seven-point run and Erkes followed with a three-pointer. Sofranko made a transition layup to make the score 42-30 with 8:06 left in the third quarter.

The Eagles responded with an 11-1 run behind seven points from Gracie Stauffer to make the score 53-31 with 3:16 left in the third. Juniata would take its largest lead to that point in the game at 25 points into the fourth quarter leading 59-34.

Juniata would build its largest lead of 35 points in the closing moments before Jordyn Garcia (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra) made a jumper for her first career-points to close the scoring.

Alfano led the Lady Colonels with 11 points including eight in the first half. Smicherko and Erkes both received their first career starts and each scored six points. Erkes also grabbed a career-high seven rebounds to lead the team. Grohowski scored a season-best three points and Kelsey Yustat (Hunlock Creek, PA/Northwest Area) came away with a career-high four rebounds and added three assists.

Stauffer led the Eagles with 17 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, four blocks, and three steals.

The Lady Colonels have off until they open Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom play against FDU-Florham on Wednesday, January 3 in Madison, N.J. at 8:00 p.m.