Erkson, Reserves Power Women’s Basketball Past Penn College

AURORA, N.Y. – Sophomore Holli Erkson (Cooperstown, N.Y.) scored 16 points off the bench for the Wells College women's basketball team en route to an 83-54 defeat of the Wildcats from the Pennsylvania College of Technology Monday evening at the Frances Tarlton Farenthold Athletic Wing. With the win, the Express continue their best start in program history with a 7-5 overall record. The Wildcats drop to 2-11 following the non-league game.

Wells set program records this evening in field goals made (37) and field goals attempted (95) while ranking second all-time in total team rebounds (67). Wells previously recorded 34 field goal conversions three separate times, most recently against Keystone on Jan. 7, 2014.

Erkson notched 16 points in only her fourth game of the season and also chipped in with six rebounds. All 12 members of the Express recorded at least one rebound, led by junior Kaitlynne Knapp (Port Byron, N.Y.) and senior Kristen Ryan (Syracuse, N.Y.). Freshman Taylor Spranger (Schenevus, N.Y.) pulled down a career-high eight rebounds while reaching double-digit points (10) for the first time in her career. Knapp added 12 points for Wells while junior Charlee Weidman (New Berlin, N.Y.) tallied a career-best six points off the bench for Wells after a 3-for-3 shooting performance.

Wells did not relinquish the lead throughout the entire game, eventually building a 32 point lead with 56 seconds left in regulation time. The Express actually trailed the Wildcats in first half field goal percentage (37% to 35.7%) but built their lead with a whopping 56 first half field goal attempts. Wells converted 43.6% (17-for-39) of their second half field goals to keep the Wildcats at arm's length throughout the remainder of the game.

Cumulatively, Wells scored 56 points in the paint while tallying 22 points off of Wildcats turnovers. 29 second chance points were recorded by the Express, opposing only eight by the visitors. The Express bench scored 48 of their team's 83 points while only 24 points were converted by the Wildcats reserves.

Penn Tech was led by Charese Bova's 12 points off the bench – she narrowly missed a double-double with nine rebounds to lead her team in that category as well. Alicia Ross was 4-for-12 from the field and buried 3-of-4 free throw attempts to record 11 total points. Margaret Dewire threw up five blocks for the guests, leading both teams in that category.

The Express return to action this Tuesday, Jan. 14 as they host the Pioneers in a 5:00 p.m. contest within the confines of the Frances Tarlton Farenthold Athletic Wing.