ASTON, PA – Host Neumann University defeated the Wilkes University women's basketball team 65-47 Monday evening at the Mirenda Center in non-conference play despite a career high 13 points by first year Taylor Simpson (Dunmore, PA/Lawrenceville School) in her second career start.

Wilkes dropped to 4-3 overall with the loss while Neumann moved to 7-3 overall as the victors.

The Colonels started strong with buckets by Yamirelis Matos (Springfield, MA/Chicopee), Simpson, and Brenna Babcock (Sweet Valley, PA/Northwest Area) netting Wilkes a 6-0 lead less than two minutes into the first quarter. The Knights fought back with an 18-4 run to end the quarter though and led 18-10 after the first 10 minutes.

Neumann built its lead to 21 points, leading 37-16 at halftime.

Simpson scored five points and Babcock four in the third quarter, but Wilkes was only able to gain one point on Neumann over the 10 minutes, trailing 46-26 entering the fourth.

Threes by Matos and Julianna Askins (Carlisle, PA/Carlisle) to open the fourth pulled Wilkes within 14 at 46-32 but the Knights answered back with the next nine to take their largest lead of the game by the midway point. From there Neumann did not allow Wilkes to get any closer than 15, eventually winning 65-47.

Simpson scored her 13 points on 4-for-9 shooting including 3-for-4 from beyond the arc. Babcock added eight points. Matos scored seven points, had five rebounds, and six steals. Erin Shober (Reading, PA/Wilson) and Madison Robel (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) led Wilkes with six rebounds and Julia Marino (Washington Township, NJ/Washington Township) had four assists.

Lauren Klieber led three Knights in double figures for scoring with 14 points while Aubrie Breisblatt added 13 and Emily DuPont 12. Klieber added nine rebounds and seven steals while Terea Hunt also had nine boards and DuPont six assists.

The Colonels return to conference play on Wednesday for their first Landmark Conference home game in the program's history when they host Lycoming College at 7:00 p.m. inside the Marts Center.