WILKES-BARRE – Behind a career-high 20 points from rookie Katelyn Kinczel (Highland Heights, OH/Mayfield), the Wilkes University women's basketball team posted a 65-49 victory over visiting Pratt Institute on Saturday afternoon in the Marts Center.
 
The win moves the Colonels to 5-3 overall while Pratt dropped to 2-5 overall on the season.
 
The teams traded baskets early before a 9-2 run late in the first quarter gave Wilkes a 17-8 advantage after one. Gianna Roberts (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke) scored in the paint followed by a Maddie Kelley (Dallas, PA/Dallas) jumper to get the run started. From there it was back-to-back buckets from Kinczel including the first of her four three-pointers to give the Colonels the nine point advantage.
 
The lead stayed at nine throughout the second quarter as Kinczel scored two more times and Roberts added a layup late to keep Wilkes out in front 28-19 at the break.
 
Wilkes extended its lead to 45-31 midway through the third frame as Kelley scored in transition and Roberts notched a layup on the break thanks to a pass ahead from Alyssa Alfano (Dunmore, PA/Holy Cross). Two minutes later Wilkes opened its largest advantage of the contest after another inside score from Roberts put the Colonels ahead 49-33 with under a minutes left in the third stanza.
 
Three straight baskets to start the fourth quarter put the game out of reach as the lead ballooned to 20 points as Kinczel notched a bucket inside the paint then added two treys from deep during the run. Pratt never came any closer than 16 points the final four minutes as Wilkes recorded its fifth non-conference win of the year.
 
Kinczel finished her career-day shooting 7-for-11 from the field including 4-of-6 from long range on way to the 20 tallies. Roberts followed with 15 points and five rebounds while Kelley rounded out the double figure scorers for Wilkes posting 12 points and 11 rebounds, her second double-double of the season.
 
Beverlee Caraway led all Prat scorers with a team-high 19 points while Emily Guerra added 12 points and a game-high 14 rebounds.
 
Wilkes continues its home stretch on Tuesday, December 17 when the Colonels host Lycoming College at 7:00 p.m. at the Marts Center.