The Rangers never trailed in the first half as they built a 38-23 lead by the break. Melissa Kraft led the way with 11 points, all of them coming during a key run. The decisive stretch of the first period came right after the Colonels pulled within one point at 12-11 with just over 12 minutes remaining. Drew responded with a 17-2 run over the next five minutes beginning with a nice drive and lay-up by Kraft. Jumpers by Genie Valantassis and Jessica DelVecchio along with Kraft’s 11 and two more from Cunningham brought the game to 29-13. Drew maintained the edge for much of the first period, returning to the locker room with a 15 point advantage.
Drew scored six of the first eight points in the second half to build a 44-25 lead, their largest of the game, but over the next six minutes Wilkes made a run to bring the game back to single digits. Six different Colonels scored during the 11-1 run including Kjadija Bates’ lay-up with 11:57 remaining to bring the score to 45-36. Drew fought back through the All-Freedom duo of Cunningham and Kraft. Kraft scored a tough lay-in to bring the lead back to 11. Cunningham had the next five points on a jumper and a three-ball. Kraft knocked down a bucket with just over nine left and then throw a perfect pass on a fast break for JaQuelia Conley to lay-in for an 18 points Drew lead.
To the Colonels credit, they rallied from 18 for the second time in the half, scoring 15 of the game’s next 18 points. Lacey Andersen drained a long three at the five minute mark and then grabbed offensive rebounds off free throws twice to put back in for buckets. Katie Cappell’s lay-up with 4:22 dragged the game back to single digits, 59-51.
As she did in the decisive run of the first half, Melissa Kraft took control of the game for the next two and a half minutes to secure the victory for Drew. Following a timeout, Kraft drilled a three off the inbound pass. After a pair of free throws by Chelsey Gosse, Kraft fed Valantassis for a bucket and stole the ball on Wilkes’ next possession. With two minutes left, the senior guard scored on a fast break lay-up. Two foul shots from Cunningham brought the score to 68-53. Another steal by Kraft and four straight free throws guaranteed the victory.
Kraft finished with 24 points, six rebounds and two steals. Cunningham added 21 points, eight boards and three thefts. Sophomore forward Laura Methvin had a solid game with a near double-double of nine points and nine rebounds. She also had four steals. As well as they played on offense, it was the defensive effort that secured the win. The Rangers forced the Colonels into 23 turnovers and held them to 32.8% shooting from the field.
The game was important match for both teams as each have playoff aspirations, but have struggled recently. The Rangers entered the game at 2-3 in the Freedom Conference having just faced the league’s top two teams in succession while Wilkes, after winning their conference opener, had dropped five consecutive matches heading into Saturday’s tussle. With the win, Drew gets back to .500 as they go on the road for the next two games at King’s and at Scranton.
Newspaper Box Score Wilkes Colonels vs Drew Rangers 01/20/07 1:00 pm at Baldwin Gym At Baldwin Gym DREW RANGERS 74, WILKES COLONELS 53 WILKES COLONELS (5-11, 1-5) Lacey Andresen 5-15 4-4 16; Chelsey Gosse 4-5 3-4 11; Katie Cappelloni 3-12 2-2 8; Karyn Perestam 3-6 0-0 6; Ashley Makarczyk 1-3 1-2 4; Randi Corbo 0-8 2-4 2; Kelly Patchell 1-3 0-0 2; Nicole Quick 1-3 0-0 2; Khadija Bates 1-3 0-0 2. Totals 19-58 12-18 53. DREW RANGERS (8-8, 3-3) Melissa Kraft 9-17 4-4 24; Courtney Cunningham 5-10 9-10 21; Laura Methvin 2-4 5-10 9; Genie Valantassis 3-6 0-2 6; Maggie Marquis 0-4 6-6 6; JaQuelia Conley 1-6 2-2 4; Allison Hartnett 1-4 0-0 2; Jessica Delvecchio 1-2 0-0 2. Totals 22-53 26-34 74. Wilkes Colonels............... 23 30 - 53 Drew Rangers.................. 38 36 - 74 3-point goals-Wilkes Colonels 3-11 (Lacey Andresen 2-3; Ashley Makarczyk 1-2; Katie Cappelloni 0-3; Randi Corbo 0-2; Nicole Quick 0-1), Drew Rangers 4-9 (Melissa Kraft 2-4; Courtney Cunningham 2-5). Fouled out--Wilkes Colonels-Katie Cappelloni, Drew Rangers-None. Rebounds-Wilkes Colonels 37 (Lacey Andresen 8), Drew Rangers 38 (Laura Methvin 9). Assists-Wilkes Colonels 6 (Randi Corbo 3), Drew Rangers 7 (Melissa Kraft 2; Genie Valantassis 2). Total fouls-Wilkes Colonels 20, Drew Rangers 18. A-200