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By PAUL SOKOLOSKI; Times Leader Sports Writer
Saturday, February 17, 1996     Page:

The last regular-season game can mean just one thing to the University of
Scranton women’s basketball team.
   
Call it a tuneup for the Middle Atlantic Conference playoffs.
    “It’s the game before the MACs,” Scranton coach Mike Strong said. “We
experiment a little bit. Losing the game means very little to us. I’m more
concerned about execution. We don’t care about winning or losing.”
   
That’s because Scranton (20-3) already has clinched the Freedom League
title heading into today’s 6 p.m. finale with Wilkes University at the Marts
Center.
   
Both teams already have clinched berths in the MAC postseason, which opens
Tuesday. But both are looking to roll in on highs.
   
Scranton can wrap up a third straight unbeaten league season in the
revamped Freedom League and head to the postseason with a 21-3 record. The
Lady Royals also have never lost to Wilkes in 27 meetings.
   
“I think we’re excited,” Strong said. “I’m proud the kids control their own
destiny.”
   
Wilkes, obviously, would like to stop Scranton’s dominance.
   
“It would be very big,” said Wilkes coach Karen Haag, whose team is 6-5 in
the Freedom League and 8-13 overall.
   
The Lady Colonels also have more motivation, in terms of playoff seedings.
   
It’s a stretch, but a Wilkes victory tonight and an FDU-Madison victory
over King’s this afternoon would leave the teams tied for third in the Freedom
League. A drawing would then be held to break the tie, putting either Wilkes
or King’s in third place to square off against the Commonwealth League’s No. 2
team, and the other in fourth to face the Commonwealth’s best.
   
“This would put us in third place,” Haag said. “That and it’s a game.
Anytime they’re keeping score and running the clock, that’s all the motivation
we need.”
   
Players to watch:
   
Scranton — Jen Nish (5-10 Jr. F), 23.1 ppg.; Karen Carpency (6-foot So.
F), Erin Hurleman (5-5 Fr. G), Mary Strasser (5-8 Sr. G), Kristen Hines (5-8
Jr. G).
   
Wilkes — Rebecca Baker (5-10 So. F), 18.6 ppg., 11.9 rpg.; Jamie Land (5-7
Sr. G), 10.3 rpg.; Renee Casterline (5-3 Sr. G), 2.8 apg.; Erica Kramer (5-7
Sr. G), Amy Kuzmick (5-8 Sr. F).