WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University men's and women's basketball teams get set for the second half of their Landmark Conference schedule this weekend, as they welcome nationally-ranked University of Catholic squads to the Marts Center on Saturday afternoon. The men tip-off first at 2:00 p.m., followed by the women at 4:00 p.m.
 
Men's: Live Stats | Live Video
Women's: Live Stats | Live Video
 
Men's Preview

The Colonels are riding a two-game win streak after defeating Moravian on the road Wednesday 77-66. This win moved them to 13-3 on the year and 6-3 in Landmark play.

Lucas Lesko (Northampton, PA/Northampton) leads the team in scoring averaging 16.2 points per game, the fourth-best mark in the Landmark Conference. Cayden Merrifield (Scranton, PA/West Scranton) and Trent Fisher (Sellersville, PA/Pennridge) are the other two Colonels averaging double-digits with 15.2 and 15.1 ppg respectively, putting the duo fifth and sixth in the conference right behind Lesko.

Fisher dominates the stat sheet for the Colonels, leading the team in rebounds (8.8 rpg, fourth in the conference), assists (3.3 apg, seventh in conference), and field goal percentage (.601, first in the conference).

The Colonel defense continues to be one of the best units in the Landmark, led by Fisher and Lesko with 1.5 and 1.3 blocks per game respectively, the second and fourth best marks in the Landmark. Joey Zvorsky (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff) leads the team with 1.8 steals per game.

As a unit, the defense ranks second in the conference in opponent field goal percentage (.405), while also sitting third in defensive efficiency (64.6 ppg allowed) and fifth in opponent three-point field goal percentage (.322).

The team sits fourth in scoring offense (74.2 ppg), second in field goal percentage (.461), and sixth in three-point field goal percentage (.322).

Catholic come into this game ranked No. 20 in the nation by D3hoops.com, rolling on an eight-game win streak. Their last win came at Goucher on Wednesday, improving their season record to 14-2 with an 8-1 record in conference play.

Jesse Hafemeister leads the team in scoring averaging 14.8 ppg, followed by Tommy Kelly and Enzo Sechi averaging 12.9 and 10.1 ppg respectively. Sechi is tied with Dan Buckley for the team lead in rebounding averaging 6.3 rpg each, while Kelly leads the team in assists averaging 3.3 per game.

Kelly also leads the team in field goal percentage at .515 and Buckley leads the team hitting half of his shots from beyond the arc at .500.

The Catholic offense ranks at the top of the conference in field goal percentage (.491) and three-point percentage (.405), and second in offensive efficiency (82.8 ppg). Defensively, they are top of the conference in defensive efficiency (63.5 ppg) and opponent field goal percentage (.365), and second in opponent three-point percentage (.315).
 
Women's Preview

Last time out, the Colonels picked up a massive home victory over Moravian 66-60 Wednesday night. This improved their season record to 7-9 with a 3-6 record in conference play.

 Yamirelis Matos (Springfield, MA/Chicopee) leads the Colonels in scoring averaging 13.8 ppg, the sixth best in the conference. She is followed by Nadia Evanosky (Dallas, PA/Dallas), who is averaging 9.6 ppg. Brenna Babcock (Sweet Valley, PA/Northwest Area) (8.1 ppg), Erin Shober (Reading, PA/Wilson) (6.9 ppg), and Taylor Simpson (Dunmore, PA/Lawrenceville School) (4.9 ppg) round out the team's top five scorers.

Matos also leads the team in rebounds averaging 6.1 rpg, while Shober and Madison Robel (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) average 6.0 and 5.2 rpg respectively.

Shober continues to be a dominant defensive force under the hoop for the Colonels, leading the team and the conference with 60 blocks, good for second in the nation. Her 3.8 blocks per game average puts her fourth in the nation and top of the conference. Matos leads the team in steals averaging 3.0 per game, the third best mark in the conference.

Julia Marino (Washington Township, NJ/Washington Township) has been the best ball distributor for the Colonels, leading the team and placing second in the conference with 3.1 assists per game.

Babcock has been one of the Colonels' most consistent shooters, holding a team-best .485 field goal percentage. Meanwhile, Matos leads the team from beyond the arc with a .333 three-point percentage.

The Colonel defense remains one of the stronger groups in the conference, boasting the best opponent three-point field goal percentage (.224), the second best opponent field goal percentage (.330), and most blocks (6.06 bpg). They also have the fifth-most efficient defense in the conference, allowing only 60.5 ppg.

On offense, Wilkes sits sixth in the conference in field goal percentage (.352), and seventh in the conference in scoring efficiency (56.4 ppg) and three-point field goal percentage (.244).

Catholic head to the Marts Center ranked No. 9 in the nation by D3hoops.com, and remain undefeated at 16-0 overall after a victory over Goucher on Wednesday. They are 9-0 in conference play.

Keegan Douglas leads the team in scoring averaging 14.6 ppg, the fourth-best mark in the conference. Kerry Flaherty (11.3 ppg), Anna Scoblick (10.9 ppg), and Carly Mulvaney (10.4 ppg) are the other three Cardinals averaging double-digit scoring. Scoblick leads the team in rebounding averaging 6.8 rebounds per game and Sarah White leads the team in assists with 2.8 apg.

Douglas leads the team in field goal percentage at .497, while Flaherty takes top honors from beyond the arc at a .417 three-point percentage.

The Catholic offense sits second in the conference in offensive efficiency (75.9 ppg) and three-point percentage (.345), and ranks third in field goal percentage at .427. Defensively, the group is ranked second to Wilkes in opponent three-point percentage (.252), third in defensive efficiency (56.3 ppg), and fourth in opponent field goal percentage (.343).