WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University women's basketball team raced out to a 32-0 lead in the first quarter and never looked back on way to a 76-30 opening season victory over Penn State Berks Saturday afternoon at the Marts Center.
 
Wilkes moved to 1-0 on the season while PSU Berks dropped to 0-2 on the year following the road defeat.
 
Wilkes started fast and furious using an up-tempo offense and pressure full court defense to provide the first 32 points of the contest. The lead continued to balloon in the second quarter as 22 costly first half turnovers by Penn State Berks led to nine more points in the second frame. The Colonels led 55-11 at the break.
 
The Lions saw its best quarter over the third stanza outscoring Wilkes 13-2 over the period, but the momentum was short-lived as Wilkes continued to hit from deep canning eight threes in the game and kept second chance points alive outscoring Penn State Berks 18-4 in second efforts.
 
It was a balanced effort offensively for Wilkes as all 14 players who saw time reached the scoring column in the win. Senior Yamirelis Matos (Springfield, MA/Chicopee) topped the squad with a well-rounded performance firing in 13 points, six rebounds, five assist and three steals. First year Aivry Devoy (Milton, MA/Archbishop Williams) followed with 10 points while fellow rookie Anya Richet (Plymouth, PA/Wyoming Valley West) notched nine points and five boards in her debut.
 
The Wilkes defense was stifling throughout the contest causing 35 Lion turnovers. The Colonels held the Lions to just 14.3 percent (6-for-42) shooting from the field and just one made three-pointer. No Penn State Berks player reached double figures.
 
Wilkes is back on the court Tuesday when the Colonels travel to Centenary University (NJ) for a non-conference game starting at 6:00 p.m.