On Saturday, the Elizabethtown College women’s basketball team had the opportunity to celebrate their seniors for their contributions to the program over the past four seasons. Guards Makenna Mummert and Ella Gordon, along with forwards Allyia Kennedy and Ellie Fasick were guided by their family and guardians as they were met by Coach Nolt and her assistant coaches at midcourt prior to the contest. They were given framed jerseys including photos of the Jays in action to commemorate their playing careers. Team manager Makenna Reed was also commemorated as she is graduating this year along with the seniors.
The Blue Jays still had a job to do, facing off against Wilkes University for a Landmark Conference contest matchup. Etown had bested the Colonels on the road last game, defeating Wilkes by 20 after Mummert and Fasick had strong third quarter performance to push the Blue Jays ahead. Etown hopes to continue their winning streak to 18 in a row against Wilkes and put themselves in prime position to host a playoff game in a couple of weeks.
The Blue Jays battled with the Colonels in the first quarter, with the lead within two after the first five minutes of play. Mummert continued her string of strong performances, contributing six of the team’s first 10 points against Wilkes. Etown was able to pull away, taking an early 11-point lead as Mummert added four more points and Kennedy contributed a free throw in the final two minutes of the quarter.
Etown caught fire in the second quarter, specifically in the final minute of action. Wilkes held Etown within ten, as Mummert led the team with five of their seven points prior to the run at the end of the quarter. Sophomore forward Kiley Wilhelm started the run for the Blue Jays, scoring a layup assisted by a pass from sophomore forward Peyton Houlihan. Mummert collected the offensive rebound off of a three-pointer miss by Gordon and drained a three of her own. On the last quality possession of the half, Mummert drove into the lane and sank an and-one, collecting the final three points of the quarter, and giving the Blue Jays a 18-point lead.
Sophomore guard Cadence Anderson picked up where the Blue Jays had left off in the first half, sinking a three-pointer after Gordon collected a steal off of Wilkes. Kennedy collected back-to-back layups extending the lead and Wilhelm added four points of her own, expanding the lead to 28 heading into the fourth quarter.
Etown’s offense slowed down as the lead kept growing in the fourth, supported by three-pointers from Wilhelm, Anderson, Kennedy and Mummert. Lots of cheers came from the Blue Jay bench as the game was coming to a close as first-year Maggie Mellott collected her first career points for the Blue Jays after knocking down a midrange jumper off an inbounds pass. The Blue Jays took care of business, taking down Wilkes 73-39.
Mummert led the Blue Jays in scoring with 26 points on the afternoon, shooting 11-15 from the field. Kennedy had a solid game, producing 16 points and eight rebounds, including five offensive rebounds. Anderson rounded out the double-digit scoring, contributing 11 points and five rebounds in the contest. Fasick produced two points and seven rebounds and Gordon added seven assists and five rebounds to round out their senior day performances.
The Blue Jays face off against Lycoming College on the road on Saturday, Feb. 21 and will have their Landmark Playoff first round matchup against either the five-seed or six-seed on Tuesday, Feb. 24.
