SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO – Yamirelis Matos (Springfield, MA/Chicopee) was the lone double-figure scorer in the game pouring in 14 points and five rebounds as the Wilkes University women's basketball team dropped game two of the Puerto Rico Classic 51-44 against Western Connecticut State Tuesday afternoon.
 
Wilkes fell to 3-7 overall following the neutral site defeat while Western Connecticut State improved to 4-7 on the year.
 
The Wolves opened a five points lead mid-way through the first quarter thanks to some hot shooting and strong defensive play. Reagan Holden (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Wilkes-Barre Area) scored a bucket in the paint followed by one free throw from Matos that pulled the Colonels to within one with 3:45 left in the stanza. Dana Wartzenluft (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights) drilled a jumper with 26 seconds to close the scoring in the opening frame as Wilkes trailed 15-12 after one.
 
The Western Connecticut State lead grew to as many as 12 points with just under five minutes left in the second quarter before a three-point play from Matos two possessions later brought the Colonels to within seven down 26-19. One more free throw from Charlotte Taylor (Somerville, NJ/Somerville) cut into the advantage again as Wilkes trailed 26-20 at the break.
 
A Matos jumper in transition continued to pull Wilkes closer as the Colonels trailed 28-26 with 7:04 on the third quarter clock. Every time Wilkes clawed its way closer the Wolves found a big bucket this time notching a three-pointer followed by back to back transition scores.  Carolyn Lundy (Fair Haven, NJ/St. John Vianney) stopped the Wolves run with a layup as the third frame ended as Wilkes remained behind by eight 42-34.
 
A Matos layup with 8:04 left in the game brought Wilkes to within six trailing 44-38, but that would be the closest the Colonels would come as Western Connecticut State continued to hit timely buckets to keep a two possession lead the rest of the way.
 
Matos finished 6-for-18 from the floor and continues her climb to the 1,000-point career mark standing with 994 points. Matos will look to become the 13^th Colonel in program history to reach the milestone and first since 2015.
 
Ten different Wolves reached the scoring column, all with nine points or less. Sara Macary topped the squad with nine points and four rebounds, while Leana Heitmann followed with eight points, 11 rebounds and five assists.
 
Wilkes struggled to find the basket from long range finishing 0-for-17 from three-point distance in the game.
 
Wilkes is back in action Saturday when it continues non-conference play with a road trip to Eastern University at 5:00 p.m. in St. Davids, Pa.