WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University women's basketball team is set to begin play for the 2020-21 season on Thursday, February 11 for what will be an abbreviated conference-only season. The Colonels are coming off a year where the team finished 9-16 overall and 3-11 in the Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom).

Wilkes will take to the court under the guidance of third-year head coach Tara Macciocco. She has coached the Colonels to seven MAC Freedom victories over the past two seasons after taking over a team that had went winless in the conference the two years prior. The nine wins overall last season were the most for the program since the 2014-15 season.

"Everyone did a great job of staying connected throughout the year, whether it was through team zoom calls or social media efforts," Macciocco said. "When we got back to practice last week, the team morale was high and the energy has continued into this week now knowing we have some games to look forward to playing."
 
This season will take on a much different look and feel for the Colonels with numerous health and safety protocols in place.
 
"The expectation is to come in every day and compete and walk off the floor a better player and team," Macciocco commented. "We are constantly reminding them that not all teams have this opportunity and we need to put our best effort toward making this a great experience for everyone."
 
Senior guard Maddie Kelley (Dallas, PA/Dallas) returns after tying for the team lead with 8.4 points-per-game (ppg) last season. She also led the team in rebounding at 5.6 rebounds-per-game (rbg) and with 56 free-throws made.

Senior forward Gabby Smicherko (Edwardsville, PA/Wyoming Valley West) will also take on a greater role this season and has already started to do so according to Macciocco.

"She has been so much more vocal this year in terms of pushing her teammates to be the best they can be," Macciocco said of Smicherko. "Gab has always been more of a leader by example and with her stepping out of her comfort zone a bit we are expecting great things from her this year."

Center Carolee Pierce (Sidney, NY/Sidney) joins Kelley and Smicherko to make up the senior leadership on the Colonels roster. Smicherko was fourth on the team last season at 5.5 ppg and 4.3 rpg. She was also second on the team with 16 blocks and tied for third accumulating 29 assists. Pierce brings size to the rotation and has played in 27 games over the past two seasons for the Colonels.

Brianna Horton (Verona, NJ/Verona) returns after starting all 25 games as a freshman in 2019-20. The guard averaged 3.3 ppg and was second on the team with 5.1 rpg. Horton facilitated much of the offense as she led the team with 51 assists and was also second with 31 steals.

Sophomore guard Brenna Babcock (Sweet Valley, PA/Northwest Area) was fifth on the team with 5.3 ppg last season and fellow sophomore guard Katelyn Kinczel (Highland Heights, OH/Mayfield) was second on the team with 28 made three-pointers and led the team shooting 36.8 percent from behind the arc. Fellow sophomores Juliann Duignam (Tatamy, PA/Nazareth), Ariel Reed (Woodbury, PA/Northern Bedford), and Katie Johns (Spring Run, PA/Fannett Metal) look to build off the experience they earned last season.

Sophomore Kendra Smith (Hughesville, PA/Hughesville) returns after having her 2019-20 season cut short by an early injury. As a freshman in 2018-19 the guard started 15 games and was second on the team with 28 steals.

The Colonels welcome four newcomers into the fold in Baylee Guedes (Palmerton, PA/Palmerton), a center and sophomore transfer from Moravian College and three first-year players in guard Julia Marino (Turnersville, NJ/Washington Township), forward Tess Edwards (Benton, PA/Northwest Area), and center Erin Shober (Reading, PA/Wilson).

"We have a very solid freshmen class," Macciocco stated. "Marino is a true floor general point guard that ran the same offensive system with her high school program. She is very heady and has a great feel for the game. Edwards has great athleticism and strength and can play multiple positions and also is reunited with her high school teammate Babcock. Shober is probably the tallest player I've ever coached at this level, standing at around 6'2" and also has great speed and will be a defensive force for us. Also, we added a transfer in Guedes who is a tremendous worker and has a great IQ at the post position."
 
Wilkes' schedule is compiled of four home-and-home series' with four different MAC Freedom opponents over a five week period. The Colonels will face DeSales in the Marts Center to start the season on Thursday, February 11 at 7:00 p.m. and then face the Bulldogs in Center Valley on Friday, February 12.

After a bye week the Colonels return to action with two-game sets against FDU-Florham, Delaware Valley, and Misericordia over the next three weeks ending on Friday, March 12.

"We are just excited to have the opportunity to be able to compete and that is our biggest focus," Macciocco said. "The MAC Freedom is such a tough, physical conference that I'm sure we can expect each one of these games to be played at a very high level. We know DeSales likes to play fast and score a lot of points, and FDU and Del Val are tough, physical teams and Misericordia has so many weapons inside and out, so it should be an exciting season even though it is abbreviated."