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The Iona women’s basketball team is tied for third in the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference and leading the way for the Gaels is junior Alexis Lewis.

The 5-foot-10 guard, a Holy Redeemer grad, leads the team in scoring (16.5) and rebounding (8.1) and is second in steals (47) and blocked shots (10) and third in assists (41). And, she’s hit 65 out of 166 3-point baskets. Lewis has had nine 20-plus scoring games this season after a 65-55 home league victory over Fairfield last Sunday in New Rochelle, N.Y. when Lewis had 21 points on 8-for-18 shooting from the field and 5-for-11 from 3-point range.

“Alexis is one of the most competitive and unselfish players that I have ever coached,” Iona head coach Billi Godsey said. “She works extremely hard and continues to improve daily. To have that type of mentality as a sophomore is incredible which is why she earned a spot as captain this season.”

The coach feels that Lewis leads by example and that her teammates respect her tremendously.

“We know we can rely on Lex to score whenever we need a basket, but she’s learning to affect the games in so many other ways,” Godsey said. “Her rebounding on both ends of the floor has become a major key to our success. Her voice as a leader is developing and defensively, she is beginning to come into her own. She’s just an incredible kid with so much more to come.”

The Gaels are 16-11 overall and tied with two other teams with an 11-7 record in the MAAC. All 11 league teams will play in the MAAC Championships March 2-6 in Albany, N.Y.

Solid meet for Spencer

Clarion junior Ben Spencer captured the 200 backstroke on the final day of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference Swimming Championship last Sunday in York. His time (1:49.08) was a meet record and a school record. The Tunkhannock Area grad also finished third in both the 200 IM (1:50.08) and 400 IM (4:01.12). And, he swam legs on the 400 free relay which finished third (3:23.29), the 800 free relay which finished third (6:53.36) and the 200 medley relay which finished fourth (1:33.40). The Golden Eagles finished third in the team standings with 368 points.

Records for Grzech

Bloomsburg junior Josh Grzech set a meet record when he captured the 100 backstroke in 49.20 at the PSAC Swimming Championship. He was also a member of the winning 400 free relay which posted a conference and meet record time of 2:59.28 and was on the winning 200 free relay (1:22.27) and the winning 200 medley relay (1:28.91). Grzech was fourth in the 100 free (45.84). Junior teammate Ryan Paisley, a Hazleton Area grad, was fourth in the 100 backstroke (51.30), fifth in the 200 free (1:42.57), swam a leg on the 200 free relay and on the 800 free relay which finished second (6:51.43).

A busy meet for Grego

Sophomore Felicia Grego competed in four individual events for the West Chester women’s swim team which captured its 11th straight PSAC title last weekend in York with a league-record 1,817 points. The Hazleton Area grad scored in all four of her events led by a fifth-place finish in the 200 butterfly with a time of 2:08.54. She also finished 10th in the 100 butterfly (58.52), 10th in the 400 IM (4:35.62) and 11th in the 200 IM (2:09.74).

A third for Bourdeau

St. Joseph’s sophomore Nathaniela Bourdeau, a Coughlin grad, finished third in the 60 meter dash at the Atlantic 10 Conference Indoor Track Championships last week in Fairfax, Va. Her time was 7.72 and earned her a spot in the Division I ECAC Championships (March 3-5 in Boston). Fifth-year senior Dannah Hayward, another Coughlin grad, finished fifth in the 500-meter dash (1:15.04) and ran the anchor leg on the 4×4 relay which finished fifth (3:52.16). Both those marks earned Hayward a spot in the ECAC meet.

Gross doing the job

Red-shirt sophomore Quinniesa Gross is a key member of the 5-17 Cheyney women’s basketball team. The Meyers grad, a 6-foot forward, is fourth on the team in scoring (7.1), second in rebounding (7.1), leads in blocked shots (33) and has 27 steals and 14 assists. She’s had two double-doubles with her best game an 18 point, 16 rebound effort in a 75-65 victory over Lock Haven on Jan. 11. Both were career highs. She also had 10 points and nine rebounds in a 71-51 loss to Mansfield on Feb. 4 and eight points and eight rebounds in a 78-56 loss to Kutztown on Feb. 11.

A second for Edkins

St. Lawrence sophomore Matthew Edkins closed out the Upper New York State Collegiate Swimming Association Championships by finishing second in the 3-meter dive last Saturday in Ithaca, N.Y. His 11-dive total was 551.85. A Lake-Lehman grad, Edkins finished third in the 1-meter dive with a score of 481.15 on the first day of the meet. He will get right back into action at the NCAA Division III Diving Regionals Friday and Saturday in the MIT pool in Cambridge, Mass.

Schoennagle helping Lions

Senior Keana Schoennagle has been a solid performer all season long for the Bryn Athyn women’s basketball team. The Hazleton Area grad is averaging 9.2 points and has hit 51 of 147 3-point attempts including 28 of 73 in the last 10 games. She’s also averaging 4.2 rebounds and has 61 assists and 27 steals. The Lions finished second in the North Eastern Athletic Conference regular season with a 16-4 record and will take a 20-5 overall record onto the playoffs.

Nardone was busy

Sophomore Mia Nardone competed in three individual races and with three relays at the Landmark Conference Swim Championships last weekend in Boyds, Md. The Pittston Area grad finished third in the 200 IM (2:13.93), fourth in the 200 butterfly (2:14.29) and sixth in the 100 butterfly (1:00.41) to help the Pacers finish fifth with 351 points. She also swam legs with the 800 free relay which finished third (8:94.71) and the 400 medley (4:13.67) and 400 free (3:44.94) both finishing fifth.

Iona head women’s basketball coach Billi Godsey called Holy Redeemer grad Alexis Lewis one of the “most competitive and unselfish players” she’s ever coached.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_Alexis-Lewis-CMYK.jpg.optimal.jpgIona head women’s basketball coach Billi Godsey called Holy Redeemer grad Alexis Lewis one of the “most competitive and unselfish players” she’s ever coached. Photo submitted

By Bill Arsenault

For Times Leader