News Release

CHESTER, Pa. — Widener University senior guard Casey Stitzel (Quakertown, PA/Lansdale Catholic) scored 24 points, while junior center Kris Clarkson (Philadelphia, PA/Overbrook) had 20 points and nine rebounds as Widener (12-7, 6-3 Commonwealth Conference) defeated Moravian (6-13, 4-4 Commonwealth Conference) 78-66 Wednesday night at the Schwartz Athletic Center.

With the win, the Pioneers have now won five straight and maintained their lead on second place in the Commonwealth Conference with just five games remaining.

Stitzel scored 15 of his points in the first half and finished the day 9-of-14 from the field including four three pointers.

Widener took as much as a 12-point lead in the first half, with the largest lead coming at 26-14 with 8:07 left on a jumper by junior center Ron Michael (Bridgeton, NJ/Salem). Moravian then cut the lead to six at 26-20 with 3:28 left on a jumper by Steve Wenderfer. Wenderfer finished with a game-high 26 points and ten rebounds. The 26 points were a career-high.

Widener got the lead back up to ten at 32-22 with 2:25 left on a layup by Clarkson, but Moravian got to within four (32-28) before Stitzel hit a three to give Widener a 35-28 halftime lead.

Widener opened the second half on a 10-2 tear and never looked back. Moravian’s last gasp came on a 8-1 run late in the second half, which was capped by a Wenderfer layup with 3:26 to go to make the score 66-64. Widener then scored the next seven points and held on at the end.

Senior guard Matt Sheaffer (Doylestown, PA/Central Bucks West) and sophomore guard Essien Ford (Baltimore, MD/Loyola Blakefield) each had eight points for Widener. Sheaffer netted six assists, while Clarkson had four steals and three blocks.

Brandon Zaleski scored 12 points for Moravian, who held a 38-24 rebounding edge.

Widener travels to Elizabethtown on Saturday.

Moravian College vs Widener University
2/2/05 8:00 p.m. at Schwartz Athletic Center, Chester, Pa.
At Schwartz Athletic Center, Chester, Pa.
WIDENER UNIVERSITY 78, MORAVIAN COLLEGE 66
MORAVIAN COLLEGE (6-13, 4-4 CC)
Steve Wenderfer 11-17 4-5 26; Brandon Zaleski 5-13 2-2 12; Ryan Miller 3-6
2-2 8; Matt Devlin 3-5 1-1 7; Chris Betley 1-3 1-2 4; Michael Clemente 1-3
0-0 3; Justin Chestnut 1-3 0-0 2; Zach Zsilavecz 1-3 0-0 2; Ed Reid 1-5 0-0
2. Totals 27-58 10-12 66.
WIDENER UNIVERSITY (12-7, 6-3 CC)
Casey Stitzel 9-14 2-2 24; Kris Clarkson 9-9 2-4 20; Essien Ford 3-10 1-2 8;
Matt Sheaffer 2-7 3-4 8; Brandon Blakey 1-4 4-6 7; Malcolm Thomas 2-6 1-1 6;
Ron Michael 2-2 1-2 5; Kofi Dwebeng 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 28-53 14-21 78.
Moravian College..............   28   38  -   66
Widener University............   35   43  -   78
3-point goals-Moravian College 2-11 (Michael Clemente 1-2; Chris Betley 1-1;
Ryan Miller 0-1; Matt Devlin 0-1; Zach Zsilavecz 0-2; Brandon Zaleski 0-1;
Steve Wenderfer 0-3), Widener University 8-15 (Casey Stitzel 4-7; Malcolm
Thomas 1-2; Matt Sheaffer 1-1; Brandon Blakey 1-2; Essien Ford 1-2; Kofi
Dwebeng 0-1). Fouled out--Moravian College-None, Widener University-None.
Rebounds-Moravian College 38 (Steve Wenderfer 10), Widener University 24
(Kris Clarkson 9). Assists-Moravian College 8 (Justin Chestnut 4), Widener
University 19 (Matt Sheaffer 6). Total fouls-Moravian College 19, Widener
University 15. A-400
Commonwealth Conference game
Widener wins fifth straight contest and will travel to Elizabethtown on
Saturday. Pioneers improve to 8-1 at home