SPRINGFIELD, MA – The Wilkes University women's basketball team opened the Hampton Inn West Springfield/Naismith Classic with a 68-44 loss to Skidmore College Friday night at Blake Arena.

Wilkes dropped to 3-8 overall with the loss while Skidmore, out of the Liberty League, improved to 6-2 overall.

Yamirelis Matos (Springfield, MA/Chicopee), returning to her hometown, scored 19 points and added three steals for the Colonels.

The Thoroughbreds began the game on a 14-0 run before Matos scored the first points for Wilkes nearly midway through the first quarter. Skidmore led 25-3 before a 7-0 run by the Colonels made the score 25-10. Matos made two free throws and a layup on the fastbreak and Julianna Askins (Carlisle, PA/Carlisle) hit a three during the run. Skidmore ended the quarter with a three of its own to lead 28-10.

Wilkes cut the lead to 14 in the second quarter following a Brenna Babcock (Sweet Valley, PA/Northwest Area) bucket with 7:04 left but Skidmore closed the quarter strong to lead by 28 at halftime, 46-18.

The Colonels were unable to make a run in the second half as the Thoroughbreds closed out the non-conference victory.

Matos came off the bench to register her 19 points on 8-for-15 shooting from the floor in 24 minutes of action. Babcock led Wilkes with six rebounds while Madison Robel (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) had five rebounds and three blocks.

Wilkes shot 26.2% from the field (17-for-65), 20.0% from three (4-for-20), and 37.5% from the line (6-for-16). Skidmore shot 38.2% from the field (21-for-55), 35.3% from three (6-for-17), and 83.3% from the line (20-for-24).

Andi Levitz led all scorers with 24 points in 23 minutes off the bench for Skidmore. Julia Blanck had a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds for the Thoroughbreds.

Wilkes closes out the Hampton Inn West Springfield/Naismith Classic tomorrow, facing the host Springfield College at 7:30 p.m. The Pride are currently nationally ranked No. 13 by D3hoops.com and the WBCA.