Wilkes Basketball Heads to DeSales on Wednesday
WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University men's and women's basketball teams will travel to DeSales on Wednesday evening for their first Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) games since the holiday break.
The men tip-off at 6:00 p.m. with the women's game to follow at 8:00 p.m. Live links are provided below for fans who are unable to attend the contests.
Live Stats – (men)
Live Stats – (women)
Live Video
The men's team enters this matchup 10-3 overall and 2-0 in the MAC Freedom after picking up a road win at Messiah, 80-73, on Saturday afternoon.
Recently, Wilkes has been led by the trio of Mark Mullins (Binghamton, NY/Chenango Valley), Marcus Robinson (Swedesboro, NJ/Kingsway Regional) and Tommy Bowen (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin), all of whom rank inside the conference's top 15 in scoring.
Mullins' 16.9 point per game (ppg) ranks fifth in the conference to go along with 7.2 rebounds (T-9th) on 53.7 percent shooting from the floor (sixth) and 85.7 percent from the line (fourth). Robinson is putting together a strong senior season for the navy and gold as he's averaging 14.8 points (seventh), 4.4 boards (19th) and 4.3 dimes (second) with 1.9 steals (third). Bowen has elevated his play as of late, recording double-digit points in the Colonels last six games. That output has propelled the senior to 15th in the MAC Freedom in scoring (12.9 ppg) while grabbing 7.2 rebounds (T-9th) on 56.5 percent shooting from the field (second).
Wilkes sits at second in the conference in scoring, averaging 80.6 ppg while allowing 73.8 ppg.
DeSales enters this game 9-4 overall and 2-0 in conference, riding a six-game win streak after defeating Penn State Berks, 84-58, on Saturday.
The Bulldogs are led by senior Luke Connaghan and junior Tracy Simsick, who both rank inside the top 20 in MAC Freedom scoring. Connaghan is averaging 11.7 points (20th), 6.5 boards (T-13th) and 3.2 helpers (seventh) while shooting 54.3 percent (fifth) from the floor. Simsick scores 17.1 ppg (fourth) and registers 1.3 blocks (T-4th) while hitting 36.4 percent of his three-pointers (10th). Sophomore guard Matt Kachelries leads the conference with 5.8 assists while snatching 6.8 rebounds and making 75.6 percent of his free throws (seventh).
DeSales trails Wilkes in scoring, averaging 78.1 ppg while holding opponents to the second fewest ppg in the MAC Freedom at 72.9.
The women's squad comes into this matchup 4-7 overall (0-2 MAC Freedom) after beating Centenary (N.J.) 63-51 at home last Thursday night.
The Colonels are led by senior Gab Giordano (Moscow, PA/Holy Cross) who is averaging a double-double with 11.7 ppg and 10.2 rebounds (second) to go along with 3.0 assists (14th). Point guard Alyssa Alfano (Dunmore, PA/Holy Cross) is also in double-digits at 10.1 ppg while spreading the ball around with 3.4 dimes (14th) and a 1.3 assist to turnover ratio (T-7th). The junior also leads the conference in free throw percentage (85.7%). The other double-digit scorer for the Colonels is sophomore Maddie Kelley (Dallas, PA/Dallas) (10.4 ppg) who is shooting at a 42.3% clip from the field.
Wilkes is averaging 67.5 ppg while allowing 74.0 ppg.
DeSales enters Wednesday's contest 11-2 overall (2-0 MAC Freedom) and is on a six-game winning streak of their own after dispatching Cabrini, 71-39, last Saturday. The Bulldogs are ranked No. 22 in both the D3hoops and Women's Basketball Coaches Association Top 25 polls.
DeSales has four players inside the top 20 in conference scoring with Leandra Sterner, Morgan Birmelin, Samantha Shinkus and Averi Jordan all averaging double figures. Sterner ranks fifth in both scoring (15.8 ppg) and field goal percentage (50.4%) while leading the conference in three-point shooting (42.6). Birmelin, another senior, sits at 14th in the MAC Freedom in scoring (12.2) and ranks first in assists with 7.5. A pair of freshman in Shinkus and Jordan are paying early dividends for the blue and red with Shinkus averaging 11.0 ppg (18th), 5.7 rebounds (T-16th) and 2.3 steals (sixth) while Jordan scores 10.8 ppg (19th) and sits behind Alfano with an 85.4 free throw percentage.
The Bulldogs lead the conference in scoring with 82.5 ppg while ranking third in opponent scoring at 53.2 ppg.
