Wesley Falls to #10 York College
Dover, Del. - Despite the efforts of Colleen Thomas (Howell, NJ/Howell) and Angie Owens (Seaford, Del./Seaford) who score 19 and 18 points respectively, Wesley (13-10, 9-5 CAC) fell to the powerful #10 ranked York College 76-67 at the Wentworth Gymnasium.
Wesley knew they had their hands full with the dominating Spartans (22-1, 14-0 CAC) coming to town. In the last meeting, Wesley was stunned with a 30 point defeat which was included in the Spartans current 20 game winning streak.
However, this time Wesley was going to make the Spartans earn every point. The Wolverine were never down by more than 5 in the first half, and even enjoyed the lead at four different times. Thomas started the game off on the right foot with two three pointers to give Wesley an early 4 point lead 1:26 into the game.
Also working in the Wolverines favor early in the game was the ball handling skills and leadership of Cory Boyd (Point Pleasant, N.J./Point Pleasant). Boyd handed out 8 assists in the first half and had a total of 13 for the game.
The Spartans took back the lead off a layup from Jamie Sapp at the 17:21 mark and held on to it until Wesley's Thomas hit another three at 11:58. Thomas, who ended the game with 19 shot 50% (5 of 10) from behind the arc.
The teams traded baskets for the next 4 minutes until a layup off a turn over by Michele Mules (York, Pa./Susquehana) and two free throws after a Maddie Demetor (Milltown, N.J./Bishop George Ahr) foul gave the lead by to the Spartans with 6:47 left in the half.
York built a five point lead off a two buckets from Amy Fry, but two consectutive three pointers from Boyd and Mules put the Wolverines back up by one with 1:48 remaining.
Late fouls by the Wolverines allow the Spartans to hit 5 free throws in the final minutes giving York a four point edge at half.
The Spartan's Keli Ward hit an the opening jumpers out of the locker room, but Wesley stormed back with a layup by Boyd, and jumper by Allison Beddia (New Castle, Del./Delcastle) and another layup, this time by Owens to make the game's fourth tie.
Wesley stayed close for the first 8 minutes of the second half until a fast break layup by April Sparkman gave the Spartans their largest lead of the game at 6 point at 49-43. The lead would grow to as much as 13 with Sparkman and Ward netting 5 and 4 respectively in a four minute run.
Wesley got a well needed shot of scoring upon the entrance of reserve guard Shavonda Cephas (Milford, Del./Milford) who scored a three point play just after subbing in. Another three point play by Thomas and the Wolverines were once again knocking on the door only down by 5 points with 5:46 remaining in the game.
However, the Spartans asserted themselves in the final 5 minutes of the game, showing just how they earned their 21st consecutive victory. Kelli Ward scored 9 of her game high 23 points in the final minutes to lead the Spartans to victory.
Wesley travels to Mary Washington on Feb. 18 for Capital Athletic Conference matchup, 6:00 p.m. tipoff.
