Basketball

Delaware Valley 89, Wilkes University 78

WILKES-BARRE (PA) -- Delaware Valley College opened up a 12-point halftime lead on their way to an 89-78 Freedom Conference women’s basketball win over Wilkes University on Saturday afternoon in the Marts Center. The win improves the Aggies to 10-4 overall and 3-1 in the conference. Wilkes slips
to 4-9 overall and 0-4 in conference play.

The Aggies enjoyed some outstanding shooting en route to the win. They connected on 11-of-22 shots from three-point range, while also converting 30-of-38 shots from the free throw line. Wilkes, which garnered a 52-38 edge in rebounding, hit on only 4-of-15 shots from behind the three-point
arc.

Wilkes rallied from an early 13-7 deficit to tie the game at 15-15 on a basket by Randi Corbo with 12:28 left in the opening half. However, that is the last time the Lady Colonels would pull even thanks to a 10-0 Delaware Valley run.

Shannon O’Neill’s three-pointer gave the Aggies the lead for good, 18-15. After a free throw by Kate McCarthy, Kristen Bone scored inside and McCarthy knocked down a jumper to increase the Delaware Valley lead to 23-15. Juli McGowan would convert two free throws at the 9:36 mark to give the Aggies a
25-15 edge.

Delaware Valley took its biggest lead of the opening stanza when McGowan hit a three-pointer and was fouled with 4:42 showing on the clock. Her free throw was also good and Aggies held a 40-21 lead. Wilkes would score the final six points of the first half, three apiece from Patti Shutt and Katie
Cappelloni, to close the gap to 43-31 at intermission.

The Aggies would lead by as many as 20 points in the second half, that coming on a basket by Rachel Joyce with 9:49 left that gave her team a 66-46 lead. But, Wilkes would methodically chip away at the lead and cut the lead to nine, 74-65, on a three-pointer by Lacey Andresen with 3:39 left.

A basket by Joyce would give the Delaware Valley a 76-65 lead. After Shutt hit one free throw for Wilkes to make it 76-66, Joyce converted a traditional three-point play to extend the lead to 79-66 with 3:04 left.

Wilkes would answer when Rena Bolin knocked down a jumper and three-pointer to pull the Lady Colonels within eight, 79-71, with 2:25 left. But, Delaware Valley would convert 10-of-12 free throws down the stretch to hold on for the win.

Joyce had 23 points and nine rebounds to lead five Aggies in double-figures. McGowan hit four three-pointers and finished with 19 tallies. Moira Donohue had 16 points and four assists. O’Neill ended the
day with 14 points and six assists, while McCarthy added 12 points.

Corbo had 16 points and seven rebounds to lead the Wilkes attack. Bolin, who had seven assists and six steals, cashed in 15 tallies. Shutt added a double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds, while Andrea Kacprowicz also had 14 tallies.