Box Score

WILKES-BARRE, Pa. - Senior guard Gina Manbeck posted a season-high 14 points as the Lycoming College women’s basketball team picked up a road victory against Wilkes University 58-41 on Wednesday, Jan. 27.

Lycoming (5-13) had balanced scoring in the first half. Junior forward Kaitlyn Ober led in scoring with eight points, going three-for-seven from the field and hit both of her free throw attempts. Manbeck put up seven points, burying two of her six shots from the floor, including one three-pointer. Allison Mock knocked down two three-pointers for six points while Leeann Randall also recorded six first half points. Lycoming took a 33-21 advantage into halftime.

In the second half, Manbeck matched her first half points with seven and also grabbed two rebounds. She scored on her only three-point attempt of the half. Ober was big on the glass, coming down with eight rebounds, including four on offense. She also chipped in five points in the second 20 minutes.

Lycoming’s defense was a key factor in the win, holding Wilkes to more than 15 points below its season scoring average of 56.3 points per game. The Lady Warriors recorded a season-high 51 rebounds while holding Wilkes to just 35 boards.

“Defensively, we played much better,” said head coach Christen Ditzler. “We held them to a few less shots than they are used to. We controlled the boards, which really boasted out defense.”

The Lady Warrior forwards were able to crack the Wilkes zone, scoring 29 points in the paint.

“Against their zone, we wanted to work the inside, which eventually gave us some good outside looks,” said Ditzler.

Once the Colonels (3-15) went to a man-to-defense, Lycoming’s outside shooters took 23 three-point attempts.

Amanda Pawlowski, Lyndsay Ellis and Lindsey Gosse each recorded eight points for the Lady Colonels. Brittany Ely paced Wilkes in rebounds with seven. Megan Kazmerski had a game-high three steals. Wilkes struggled at the free throw line, hitting just 10 of its 16 attempts.

Ober finished the evening with her third double-double of the season, putting up 13 points with 11 rebounds. Manbeck was the game’s leading scorer with 14. She also had three steals and four rebounds. Randall rounded out the Warrior double-digit scorers with 10 points. Mock was Lycoming’s top three-point shooter, scoring all nine of her points from deep. Jessica Zerbee had seven rebounds and two assists.

Lycoming had its best night of the season at the free throw line, shooting 81.8 (nine-for-11) percent. The Warriors’ 19 offensive rebounds were crucial, allowing Lycoming to put up 12 second chance points.

The Lady Warriors return to their conference schedule on Saturday, Jan. 30, when they host Albright College. The game is set to begin at 1 p.m.

Notes: Lycoming is 33-24 all-time against Wilkes … the Lady Warriors have won four of the last five meetings … Zerbee has 289 assists and is four away from third all-time (293) … Zerbee is also one steal away from third all-time (180) ... Lycoming has completed its non-conference schedule