WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Wilkes women's basketball team gets set to start their 2025-26 campaign with a home match-up against Penn State Berks on Saturday, with tip off set for 3:00p.m. 

The Colonels enter their third year in the Landmark Conference under the direction of Al Berger who has been with Wilkes since their induction into the conference. Wilkes also adds Haley Bestrycki to the program as an assistant coach after two seasons spent at Keystone College.

"I'm excited about the group we have, and to get out there and face other competition," Berger said about the upcoming season. 

Wilkes returns nine players to the roster including six guards, two forwards, and one center.  Returning guard is senior Yamirelis Matos (Springfield, MA/Chicopee) who led the Colonels' offense last season averaging 16.4 points-per-game and 2.1 assists, which earned her All-Conference Honorable Mention honors. She is joined by senior Reagan Holden (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Wilkes-Barre Area) who was fifth in scoring and second in assists, juniors Madison Olguin (San Antonio, TX/Antonian Prep) and Kyleen McCance (Hanover, PA/Hanover Area), and sophomores Delaney Bogdan (Long Valley, NJ/Mendham) and Carolyn Lundy (Fair Haven, NJ/St. John Vianney). 

Returning to the paint is senior center Madison Robel (Middlesex, NJ/Middlesex) who averaged 4.4 rebounds and 3.1 points-per-game. Sophomores Maliyah Warren (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville) and Dana Wartzenluft (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights) join her down low where Warren was second in points and third in rebounds, and Wartzenluft averaged 2.9 points and 2.7 rebounds.

"They've stepped up, they're ready to play and contribute, and they came back ready to go" Berger says about the returners. 

Wilkes adds six first-years and one transfer to the roster this season with four guards and three forwards. Charlotte Taylor (Somerville, NJ/Somerville), Aviry Devoy, Addison Place (Dover, PA/Northern York), and Delaney Moyer (Dillsburg, PA/Northern York) make up the guards, while Anya Richet (Plymouth, PA/Wyoming Valley West), Izzi Toland (Cape May Court House, NJ/Middle Township), and Mercedes Artaiz (Durham, CT/Mercy) make up the forwards. 

"We brought in a really strong group that are excited to get experience under their belt," Berger mentioned about the newcomers. "We have high expectations for them, and they came in ready to play."
 
The Colonels look ahead to a 25 game schedule with seven non-conference match-ups, including their Puerto Rico Tournament in December, and 18 conference games for the 2025-26 season.
 
"We're all really looking forward to it," Berger says about the Puerto Rico Tournament. "It's an opportunity for us to get away together and enjoy an experience that's outside of the box." 

The blue and gold face-off with the Nittany Lions on Saturday, November 8, with tip off at 3:00p.m. at the Marts Center.