Strong Opening Quarter Lifts Wilkes Women's Basketball Over Delaware Valley
WILKES-BARRE, PA – The Wilkes University women's basketball team used a 17-6 first quarter to defeat Delaware Valley University 56-45 on Wednesday night at the Marts Center.
The Colonels third conference victory of the season (3-4) gives them their most Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) wins since the 2014-2015 season (four) and improves their overall record to 7-10.
Both offenses started slow as a Gianna Roberts' (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke) made free throw gave Wilkes a 7-2 lead with just over three minutes remaining in the opening quarter. Alyssa Alfano (Dunmore, PA/Holy Cross) hit a three-pointer and added a layup in the closing minutes to give the Colonels a 17-6 advantage after the first 10 minutes of play.
The Aggies started the second quarter with back-to-back three-pointers but the Colonels remained unfazed as Ashley Caster (York, PA/Spring Grove) made two free throws to push the lead back to double-digits at 24-12 with 6:09 left until the half.
Each team would cool off as halftime drew closer but a Gabby Smicherko (Edwardsville, PA/Wyoming Valley West) triple put Wilkes up 10 at 27-17 heading into the break.
A Maddie Kelley (Dallas, PA/Dallas) jumper pushed the lead to 16 at 35-19, just over three minutes into the third quarter.
A pair of Gab Giordano (Moscow, PA/Holy Cross) free throws gave Wilkes their largest lead of the night at 39-19 with 4:14 left in the third.
Delaware Valley would answer by closing the quarter on an 11-0 run to pull within nine heading into the fourth.
The Aggies cut the deficit to seven on the first trip down the court but a Kelley three gave the navy and gold a double-digit lead at 44-32 with 8:09 to go.
The visitors trimmed the lead to nine again with five minutes remaining but that's as close as they would get as the Colonels continued to have good possessions down the stretch on their way to a 56-45 home victory.
Three players were in double-digits for the Colonels as Kelley led the way with 12 while Giordano had a double-double with 10 points and 14 rebounds. Roberts was solid from the line as she made nine free throws to chip in 11 points and seven boards.
Wilkes held the advantage in the paint as it outscored Delaware Valley 22-12.
The Colonels hit the road on Saturday, January 26th when they head to Eastern for a 1:00 p.m. tip.
