Three Finish in Double-Figures of Wilkes Women's Basketball Season Opener
ASTON, Pa. – Gab Giordano (Moscow, PA/Holy Cross) (22 points), Alyssa Alfano (Dunmore, PA/Holy Cross) (15), and Gianna Roberts (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke) (11) all finished in double-figures for points as the Wilkes University women's basketball team opened the 2018-19 season with an 85-75 defeat at Neumann University on Thursday evening.
The Colonels fell to 0-1 on the season.
Neumann started the game on a 10-0 run before Giordano hit a three-pointer with an assist from Kendra Smith (Hughesville, PA/Hughesville) with just under three minutes off the clock in the first quarter. The bucket sparked a 9-0 run over the next two minutes as Wilkes cut the deficit to 10-9 with 5:05 on the clock. The two teams went bucket-for-bucket for the remainder of the quarter as the Knights led 20-16 after 10 minutes.
Alfano started the second quarter with a jumper and a free-throw to cut the deficit to 20-19 with 7:17 until halftime. Neumann extended its lead to four at 27-23 before going on a 12-4 run to open a 39-27 lead with under two minutes remaining as the Colonels found themselves trailing 42-33 heading into the locker room at halftime.
Wilkes was unable to make a cut into the Knight's lead in the third quarter as Neumann remained in front 62-49.
The Colonels were able to get within six points multiple times in the fourth, however the Knights had a response each time as the final horn sounded.
Giordano finished with a double-double in her first contest for the Navy and Gold, adding 14 rebounds to her 22 points. Ashley Caster (York, PA/Spring Grove) contributed nine points and seven rebounds.
Nafisa Saunders paced Neumann with a game-high 33 points to go with eight rebounds and four assists. Maia Bryson added 16 points and four rebounds while Chelsea Keebler finished with 12 points and three rebounds.
Wilkes finished the game shooting 45 percent (27-60) while holding the Knights to 37.5 percent (27-72). The Colonels outscored Neumann 24-10 on the fast break and took control in the paint with 40 points compared to 20 for the Knights.
Wilkes returns to the court on Saturday when it will host Penn State Hazleton in its home opener for a 7:00 p.m. non-conference game at the Marts Center.
