SCRANTON, PA – The Wilkes University women's basketball team scored the final eight points to open the 2023-24 season with a 56-50 non-conference win at Marywood University inside Insalaco Arena Friday night. The victory for the Colonels is the first for head coach Al Berger at Wilkes.

The victory is the first for the Colonels over the Pacers since November 17, 2017 and the first at Marywood for Wilkes since November 26, 2002.

Trailing 50-48 with 3:51 remaining, Erin Shober (Reading, PA/Wilson) converted a bucket down low to tie the game. Julia Marino (Washington Township, NJ/Washington Township) then put the Colonels ahead for good as nailed a three-pointer with 3:03 left off an assist from Shober. A Yamirelis Matos (Springfield, MA/Chicopee) free throw with 2:22 left put Wilkes up 54-50. From there five consecutive stops on defense propelled the Colonels to victory as Julia Marino (Washington Township, NJ/Washington Township) iced the game with two free throws with five seconds remaining.

The Colonels went ahead 6-2 in the opening minutes of the first quarter with a Matos basket and two by Marino. Following a Julianna Askins (Carlisle, PA/Carlisle) layup and a three by Nadia Evanosky (Dallas, PA/Dallas), the Colonels led 11-4 with 5:37 left in the quarter. An 11-2 run by Marywood ended the quarter with the hosts leading 15-13.

The Pacers opened an eight-point lead by scoring the first six points of the second quarter and they led by nine at 24-15 with 4:09 left until halftime. Wilkes closed the quarter strong with buckets by Evanosky, Brenna Babcock (Sweet Valley, PA/Northwest Area), Madison Robel (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex), and Evanosky again to make the score 24-23 at the break.

The Colonels' run continued into the third quarter, going to 15-0 total, and giving Wilkes a 30-24 lead. A Matos layup, a three by Evanosky and two free throws from the latter culminated the run. Wilkes built its lead to as much as eight points with 1:14 left in the quarter as Reagan Holden (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Wilkes-Barre Area) hit a jumper to make it 41-33. Marywood scored the final four points of the third as Wilkes led 41-37 heading into the final 10 minutes.

A made three by Marywood with 6:30 left in the game put the hosts ahead 44-43 but Marino answered with a layup with 6:08 left to put the Colonels back ahead. Two conversions from the free-throw line gave the Pacers the lead back before Evanosky connected from deep again to make it 48-46 with 4:59 remaining. A free throw followed by a three-pointer put Marywood back ahead 50-48 with 4:16 left, setting up the final 8-0 run by Wilkes to earn the win.

Evanosky led Wilkes with a career-high 17 points, including 3-for-6 shooting from behind the arc. Marino added 11 points, five rebounds, and a team-leading five assists. Matos followed with nine points and five rebounds. Robel led Wilkes with seven rebounds and added four assists. Shober had three blocks.

Marywood was led by Mia Blume's 11 points and eight rebounds. Rachael McDonald added 10 points.

The Colonels shot 33.3% (22-for-66) from the field, 19.0% (4-for-21) from three, and 80.0% (8-for-10) from the free throw line. Marywood was 31.0% (18-for-58), 21.4% (3-for-14) from three, and 84.6% (11-for-13) from the line. Wilkes forced 24 Marywood turnovers and only committed 13 themselves which led to 22 points-off-turnovers for Wilkes and only 12 for Marywood. The Colonels also led in points-in-the-paint 28-16. There were nine lead changes, and the score was tied five times in the game.

Wilkes returns to action on Saturday, November 18 at Gwynedd Mercy University with tipoff scheduled for 1:00 p.m.