WILKES BARRE- Gianna Roberts (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke) poured in a career-best 23 points as the Wilkes University women's basketball team posted a 73-71 victory in a tightly fought battle against Gwynedd Mercy University of the Atlantic East Conference (AEC) Wednesday night in the Marts Center.
The 4-3 Colonels were able to hold onto their fourth quarter lead and clinch the non-conference win against the Griffins (2-6) with a series of key free throws in the final minute.
A strong first quarter press from the Griffins had the Colonels struggling to bring the ball up the court causing Wilkes to turn the ball over 12 times in the game's first ten minutes. A number of missed free throws and three point opportunities set the Colonels back early on. A three pointer with six seconds left to play in the first quarter lifted the Griffins to an 18-9 lead.
The Colonels began to fight back in the second period. Wilkes broke down the strong Gwynedd Mercy full court press with pure hustle blowing through the Griffins defense with a number of fast breaks. Wilkes' Kendra Smith (Hughesville, PA/Hughesville) sparked a late second period run for the Colonels with a steal with :25 left resulting in a layup putting Wilkes up over the Griffins 32-31. Maddie Kelley (Dallas, PA/Dallas) picked up another basket off of a steal for the Colonels with five seconds to go pushing the lead to 34-31 at the break.
The Colonels were able to hold onto the lead throughout the third quarter as Gwynedd Mercy came out of halftime with a sense of urgency. At the end of the third quarter, Wilkes held a slim 51-50 advantage.
The fourth quarter was filled with a large number of fouls on the Griffins and the Colonels cashed in from the stripe. Wilkes went 80 percent (16-20) from the free throw line in the final frame.
Roberts lead the Colonels on her career night shooting 8-for-11 from the field and 7-for-11 from the line while adding nine rebounds. She also racked up three blocks.
Kelley recorded a double-double posting 13 points and 10 rebounds. Vanessa Whitecavage (Shenandoah, PA/Marian Catholic) helped the Colonels close down the game going 10-for-10 from the free throw line. Whitecavage also collected 4 rebounds and two assists for the Colonels.
The Colonels return to the action on Saturday, December 7th with a 1:00 p.m. tip-off. Wilkes will take on the Pratt Institute Cannoneers for the first time in a non-conference matchup.
