Wilkes Women's Basketball Falls to No. 8 Scranton; Kelley Named All-Tournament

SCRANTON, Pa. – Gab Giordano (Moscow, PA/Holy Cross) and Maddie Kelley (Dallas, PA/Dallas) both finished with 11 points with Kelley earning All-Cross County honors, but the Wilkes University women's basketball team wrapped up the latest installment of the Cross County Challenge with a 69-47 loss to No. 8 University of Scranton on Saturday afternoon.

The Colonels fell to 1-4 with the defeat.

The Royals started the contest with the first eight points before Gianna Roberts (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke) converted a layup to end the run with 7:14 left in the first quarter. Scranton kept its advantage as the initial 10 minutes ended with the Royals leading 19-12.

The Royals began the second quarter on a 4-0 run to extend its lead to 11 before Kelley provided her own 6-0 run with a layup and resulting free throw and a three-pointer to cut the deficit to five at 23-18 with just under eight minutes left in the half. Scranton finished the quarter on a 13-5 run entering the break as Wilkes trailed 36-23.

The Royals took control in the third and fourth quarter to put the game away.

Giordano added 14 rebounds to notch her fourth double-double in five games this season. Roberts added nine points and four rebounds for the Colonels.

Makenzie Mason provided most of the offense for Scranton finishing with 24 points and ten rebounds to earn MVP honors. Bridgette Mann, Emily Sheehan, and Hannah Kowalski added eight points apiece.

Wilkes returns to action on Tuesday when it will host Penn State Wilkes-Barre at the Marts Center with tip-off scheduled for 6:00 p.m.