First Place DeSales Visits Wilkes Basketball on Saturday
WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University women's and men's basketball teams will welcome two first place teams to the Marts Center in the DeSales University Bulldogs on Saturday afternoon for a Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) doubleheader.
The women tip-off at 12:00 p.m. with the men's game to follow at 2:00 p.m. Live links are provided below for fans who are unable to attend the contests.
Live Stats – (women)
Live Stats – (men)
Video
The women's squad comes into this matchup 3-6 in the MAC Freedom and 7-13 overall after dropping a hard fought game to Manhattanville on Wednesday evening. The Colonels fell to the then #22 Bulldogs 86-46 on January 9th in Center Valley.
The Colonels are led by Gab Giordano (Moscow, PA/Holy Cross) who record her ninth double-double of the season against the Valiants. The senior is 13th in the conference in scoring (13.0 ppg) while ranking third in both rebounds (9.8) and assists (3.5). Maddie Kelley (Dallas, PA/Dallas) has recorded double-digit points in five of the last seven games to establish herself as the second scoring threat for Wilkes at 10.4 ppg (20th). Senior Ashley Caster (York, PA/Spring Grove) has been consistent in the paint for the Colonels as she can be relied on for nearly 10 points (9.9 ppg) and five boards a game (4.7) while leading the navy and gold in field goal percentage at 51.3%, good for second in the conference.
Wilkes is averaging 63.3 ppg in conference play while allowing 75.7.
DeSales enters a perfect 9-0 in conference (18-2 overall) after demolishing FDU-Florham, 87-41, on Wednesday night. The Bulldogs are currently ranked No. 17 in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association Top 25 poll while sitting at No. 18 in the D3 Hoops poll.
DeSales has three players inside the top 20 in conference scoring with Samantha Shinkus, Morgan Birmelin and Averi Jordan all averaging double figures. The Bulldogs are currently being led by a pair of freshman in Shinkus and Jordan who are averaging 13.1 ppg (12th) and 12.3 ppg (15th) respectively. The duo also crashes the boards as Shinkus pulls down 6.0 a game (16th) while Jordan is right behind her with 5.7 (19th). The DeSales offense is run by the senior Birmelin who ranks first in the MAC Freedom in assists (7.8) while also adding 12.1 ppg (12th).
In conference action, DeSales leads the MAC Freedom in both scoring (79.6 ppg) and scoring defense (51.1 ppg.)
This is another important game for the men's team as they look to keep ahold of the fourth and final playoff spot as they currently have the tiebreaker at 5-4 in the MAC Freedom with five conference games remaining. The Colonels pulled away from the Valiants late in the second half on Wednesday to earn a much needed 76-62 victory as they look to protect home court after dropping a 97-85 game at DeSales earlier this season.
The Wilkes attack continues to be led by the quartet of Rob Pecorelli (Huntington, NY/Harborfields), 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 11 in scoring.
Pecorelli leads the Colonels with 16.3 ppg (fourth) while chipping in 6.1 rebounds (13th) and 2.4 assists (T-18th). Mullins continues his strong play as of late by registering his sixth straight game in double figures with 16 points to go along with 15 boards for the double–double. The junior is inside the conference's top ten in several important categories as he's tied for sixth in points (15.8), tied for fifth in rebounds (7.3), ranks fourth in field goal percentage (54.2%) and is fifth in free throw percentage (84.0%). Robinson is a complete player for the navy and gold as he ranks eighth in scoring (15.4 ppg) and is tied for second in assists (3.9) while picking opponents pockets on the defensive end with 2.0 steals a game (third). Bowen has found the touch in conference play as he ranks fifth in the MAC Freedom in scoring against conference foes. On the season, the senior is tied for third in field goal percentage (55.6%) and tied for fifth with Mullins in rebounds.
In MAC Freedom action, Wilkes leads the conference in scoring at (81.7 ppg) while allowing 79.9 ppg.
DeSales comes in on a three-game winning streak that keeps them atop the MAC Freedom standings at 8-1 (15-5) overall.
The Bulldogs are led by the trio of Tracy Simsick, Luke Connaghan and Matt Kachelries who all rank inside the top 25 in MAC Freedom scoring. Simsick is DeSales leading point getter at 16.6 ppg (third) while recording 1.2 blocks (T-4th) and hitting 38.5 percent of his three-pointers (fourth). Connaghan, a senior, averages 12.3 points (17th), 6.8 boards (T-7th) and 2.9 helpers (10th) while shooting 53.8 percent from the floor (fifth). Sophomore guard Matt Kachelries runs the point, leading the conference with 6.2 assists while also adding 10.9 ppg and 6.6 boards (ninth).
DeSales only trails Wilkes in scoring during MAC Freedom play with 79.7 ppg while holding conference opponents to the fewest ppg at 69.4 ppg.
