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WILKES-BARRE – The University of Scranton showed off its defensive prowess in the first half and its offensive versatility in the second half Sunday.

Both were too much for the Wilkes University women’s basketball team in a 78-42 rout during the second and final day of the Cross County Challenge at King’s College.

Scranton remained unbeaten with two wins in the event. Wilkes lost twice to drop to the .500 mark at 3-3.

Emily Shurina, coming off the bench, and Emily Sheehan, last year’s Landmark Conference Defensive Player of the Year, each hit four 3-pointers for the Lady Royals.

Shurina finished with a game-high 13 points.

Sheehan joined all-tournament selections Makenzie Mason and Bridget Monaghan with 12 each.

Taylor Rodriguez added nine points while leading the defense with seven steals.

“We love the depth of our talent,” said Scranton coach Nick DiPillo, who is in his first season after taking over the program when former Misericordia player and men’s coach Trevor Woodruff left the Lady Royals program to become head coach at Division I Bucknell University. “We think we have a nice complement of shooters, drivers and people who can score the ball inside.”

Wilkes entered the weekend ranked in the top 10 in the nation in fewest points allowed, but has struggled to find its way offensively.

The Colonels missed their first dozen 3-point attempts before Katelyn Kinczel hit in the last minute of the third quarter.

Scranton’s defense made things difficult for Wilkes in other ways, forcing 19 first-half turnovers. Wilkes managed just three field goals in the half while falling behind, 33-11.

Macy Berryman led Wilkes with eight points.

Wyoming Valley West graduate Gabby Smicherko made the all-tournament team after finishing with seven points and six assists.

Smicherko had led the way for Wilkes with 17 points when it fell to Marywood, 65-58, in Saturday’s tournament opener. She also had five rebounds and two assists.

University of Scranton 78, Wilkes University 42

SCRANTON (78) — Sofia Recupero 1-5 1-2 3, Emily Sheehan 4-9 0-0 12, Taylor Rodriguez 4-12 0-1 9, Lily Warhaftig 0-1 3-4 3, Makenzie Mason 6-10 0-0 12, Emily Shurina 4-10 1-2 13, Bridget Monaghan 4-9 4-5 12, Kyra Quigley 0-0 0-0 0, Erin Worzel 0-1 0-0 0, Danielle McCurdy 0-1 1-2 1, Carly Heineman 3-7 0-0 8, Sara Walsh 1-1 0-0 2, Kayla Farney 1-2 0-0 3. Totals 28-68 10-16 78.

WILKES (42) — Gabby Smicherko 1-3 5-6 7, Ariel Reed 1-3 3-4 5, Maddie Kelley 0-7 2-2 2, Julian Duignam 0-1 0-0 0, Brianna Horton 1-2 2-2 5, Vanessa Whitecavage 1-4 0-0 2, Alyssa Alfano 0-5 1-2 1, Gianna Roberts 1-2 2-2 4, Kendra Smith 1-2 3-7 5, Macy Berryman 2-11 2-2 6, Katelyn Kinczel 1-5 0-0 3, Stef Kramer 0-1 0-0 0, Katie Johns 0-1 0-0 0, Jordan Harrison 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 9-47 20-27 42.

Scranton`17`16`26`19`—`78

Wilkes`2`9`13`18`—`42

Three-point shooting — SCR 12-29 (Sheehan 4-6, Shurina 4-8, Heineman 2-4, Farney 1-2, Rodriguez 1-5, Warhaftig 0-1, Monaghan 0-3), WIL 4-26 (Berryman 2-7, Horton 1-2, Kinczel 1-4, Duignam 0-1, Kramer 0-1, Johns 0-1, Alfano 0-2, Whitecavage 0-3, Kelley 0-5).

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By Tom Robinson

For Times Leader