WILKES-BARRE, Pa. — The Colonels entered Saturday looking to make it three straight wins in conference play. They stayed close for most of the game, going back-and-forth throughout the contest. The game featured 10 lead changes but ultimately Wilkes fell behind late and couldn’t get back on top, losing 63- 59.

The Colonels played a great first three quarters and they went into the fourth up 41-36.

Wilkes looked excellent on the defensive end of the floor, holding Eastern to 22.8 percent shooting from the floor.  

The Eagles however stormed back in the fourth quarter, dropping 27 points to secure the win. They shot 76.9 percent from the field while knocking down some late free throws. 

“I’m sick of just being competitive,” Wilkes coach Tara Macciocco said. “We had a seven point lead we let them back in it and still had chances cutting it to two. We have got to make better basketball decisions and learn how to finish games.”

Kay Wulah stepped up for Eastern with a 25-point and 11-rebound double-double. Not too far behind was Jaelyn Harris with 19 points. 

Alyssa Alfano led Wilkes in scoring with 13 points and Maddie Kelley fell one-point shy of double-double with nine points and 10 rebounds.

“The lane was just wide open,” Alfano said. “I was just able to get to the basket.” 

Macy Berryman added 11 points while going 2-5 from beyond-the-arc, including one late to bring the game within five.

“To get a stop and a score was really what we needed,” Berryman said. “I just created the space took the shot and luckily it went in.”

Wilkes was seeming to string together some serious momentum before this game, picking up wins at FDU-Florham and Delaware Valley. In the latter of those two games the Colonels perhaps looked the best they have in recent memory.

Securing big wins in the MAC Freedom, specifically against Delaware Valley seemed to be the start of this team finally clicking on all cylinders.

Through three quarters, the Colonels continued to look like the winning team of the past two games. The fourth quarter proved to be a step backwards for the the young Colonels. A hiccup in this season that could result in the Colonels missing the playoffs and could look to serve as motivation for seasons to come. 

As this squad grows together they will learn to hold onto games like this and perhaps a leader of this Colonel team, will step up after the tough loss.

“This is definitely a learning experience for us, we need to learn how to not panic in a close game and learn how to close out a win,” said Alfano. 

The Colonels have taken strides after winning their first two games in conference play.

“We really wanted to pull this win,” Berryman said. “But we just need to bounce back.”