WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University men's and women's basketball teams continue Landmark Conference play on Saturday, as both teams travel to Moravian University to take on the Greyhounds. The men will start the action at 2:00 p.m. with the women following at 4:00 p.m.
Men's: Live Stats |
Live Video
Women's: Live Stats |
Live Video
Men's Preview
Wilkes opened Landmark play defeating Lycoming College 74-67 this past Wednesday, improving their overall record to 4-0 and conference record to 1-0.
After an explosive game against the Warriors, sophomore
Daniel Santaniello (Roaring Brook Twp., PA/Scranton Prep) leads the Colonels in scoring, averaging 20 PPG, and shooting 54.2% inside the arc and 46.2% from deep. Junior
Eli Becker (Palmyra, PA/Palmyra) has also been instrumental for Wilkes shooting 60% from three-point range and averaging 11.3 PPG, while adding 7.3 rebounds per game.
Seniors
Jack Argento (Hershey, PA/Hershey) and Collin Ackerman have been major playmakers for the Colonels. Ackerman leads the team in assists with 20 assists while contributing 15.8 PPG, while Argento is right behind him with 18 assists and 10.3 PPG.
With the young season under way, the Colonels are third in the conference averaging 84 PPG, and first with a scoring margin of 14.8. Wilkes continues to dominate the glass in the Landmark averaging 46 rebounds per game and a rebounding margin of 14.8.
Moravian goes into the matchup 3-0 overall led by senior guard Marquis Ratcliff averaging a Landmark-best 31.7 PPG and 12.7 rebounds per game. He is joined by senior Porter Kelly who leads the team in assists with 11 in four games, while sitting second in the conference in scoring averaging 22.3 PPG. Forward Liam Cummiskey is a threat from deep shooting 55.6% from beyond the arc.
The Greyhounds sit atop of the Landmark in scoring averaging 98.3 PPG, though the team's defense allows 96.3 PPG. The Greyhounds are just behind the Colonels in rebounds and assists with 45.3 RPG and 18 APG.
Women's Preview
Wilkes goes into this matchup with an overall record of 2-2 and conference record of 0-1 after its 71-40 loss to Lycoming this past Wednesday.
Senior guard
Yamirelis Matos (Springfield, MA/Chicopee) leads the team in scoring (12 PPG) and assists (2.5 APG).
Maliyah Warren (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville) has also been influential for Wilkes being second second on the team in scoring with 11 PPG and averaging 7.3 RPG, placing her top ten in the Landmark.
Carolyn Lundy (Fair Haven, NJ/St. John Vianney) (5 PPG),
Anya Richet (Plymouth, PA/Wyoming Valley West)t (4.8 PPG), and
Delaney Bogdan (Long Valley, NJ/Mendham) (3.8 PPG) continue to contribute off the bench as they round out the team's top five scorers.
With the season in the early stages, the team's defense has been its strongest asset, ranking second in the conference for both rebounding (44.3 RPG) and steals (13 per game), fourth in opponent field goal percentage (0.332), and fifth in total defense (57.8). Seniors
Reagan Holden (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Wilkes-Barre Area) and Matos lead the team with nine steals each, while Warren has picked up 29 boards so far. First-year forward
Mercedes Artaiz (Durham, CT/Mercy) has been a presence off the bench, leading the team in blocked shots with five on the season.
Moravian is currently 1-2 overall and 0-1 in conference after their most recent loss to Elizabethtown College.
Junior guard Lizzie Lustig leads the Greyhounds averaging 22.3 PPG proving to be a threat from deep shooting 80% beyond the arc, while center Grace Steffen has been the most persistent on the glass, averaging 7 RPG. Guards Kylie Cabana (6.3 PPG), Megan Elias (8.0 PPG), and Julianna Vassallo (9.7 PPG) round out the teams top scorers.
Moravaian's offense currently holds the fifth spot in conference averaging 66.7 PPG, shooting 0.413 from the field and 0.333 from deep.
