WILKES-BARRE, Pa. – The Wilkes University women's basketball team is set to begin their 2026-27 campaign on Friday, November 6 for a 7 p.m. tip-off against Misericordia University.
Head coach,
Al Berger, enters his fourth season with the Colonels after finishing last season with a 5-20 overall record and a 2-16 record in the Landmark Conference.
Monica Spence is added to the coaching staff as an assistant coach, following her coaching career at Lackawanna College.
"I think it is just about getting better day by day. We have a young group where we have no seniors this year. We lost a lot with our graduating class, but we're really excited about the group that we brought in and the group we're developing into a finished product," Berger explained his excitement to start the 2026-27 season.
The Colonels return 11 players for the 2026-27 season including six guards and five forwards. The team loses their top-scorer, but are returning their top shot-blocker and second-best scorer,
Maliyah Warren (Phoenixville, PA/Phoenixville). Warren started in all 25 games last season, averaging 11.8 points, 5.3 rebounds per game, and blocked a total of 32 shots.
Sophomore forwards returning are
Anya Richet (Plymouth, PA/Wyoming Valley West) and
Izzi Toland (Cape May Court House, NJ/Middle Township). Richet led the team in rebounds, averaging 5.8 per game and was the third top-scorer on the team, averaging 5.8 points per game.
Addison Place (Dover, PA/Northern York) returns after averaging 2.7 points per game and 3.3 rebounds per game. The Colonels also welcome back junior
Dana Wartzenluft (Mertztown, PA/Brandywine Heights) to the paint after playing in 23 games.
For the guards,
Charlotte Taylor (Somerville, NJ/Somerville) returns to the court after being a defensive powerhouse, totaling 33 steals during the season while also averaging 3.5 points per game. She is joined by
Carolyn Lundy (Fair Haven, NJ/St. John Vianney) who averaged 2.2 points per game and completed 10 assists last season.
Aivry Devoy (Milton, MA/Archbishop Williams) also returns after averaging 2.4 points per game and totaling 13 assists.
Lynzee Andreuzzi (Drums, PA/Hazleton Area) and
Delaney Moyer (Dillsburg, PA/Northern York) and junior
Delaney Bogdan (Long Valley, NJ/Mendham) complete the returning guards.
"We have a varying cast. They can do a lot of different things, a lot of versatility, a couple point guards in the mix, a couple forwards in the mix, and a Swiss Army Knife type of player," Berger said when asked about the type of first years he brought onto the team, "I think that we are really well suited to fill in the gaps with this freshmen group."
Wilkes adds five new players to the roster including three forwards and two guards. First-year forwards joining the team are
Leah Bird (Dingmans Ferry, PA/Delaware Valley),
Georgia Mummert (New Oxford, PA/New Oxford), and
Alexa Davis (Nazareth, PA/Nazareth Area).
Gabriella Flanzbaum (Keansburg, NJ/Keansburg) and
Kate Reed (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke) round out the guards in the first year class.
"I think it will be a tough one…I'm excited about the matchup, I think it should be competitive. I like the way that we match up with some of their personnel, but obviously they have to decide it on the court," Berger said in anticipation of their opening season game.
The Colonels face off against the Cougars on the road on Friday, November 6 with a tip off at 7 p.m. for their first game of the season.
