2/23/24
 
SCRANTON, Pa. – Lackawanna College women's basketball concluded the 2023-2024 regular season earlier this week, and the Falcons now turn their collective attention to the postseason, as the Falcons open up the Region XIX Division II Women's Basketball tournament this weekend.
 
The Falcons (10-13) are the fourth-seed, and are scheduled to host fifth-seeded Middlesex College on Saturday, February 24^th. Tip is set for a 1:00pm ET start at the Lackawanna College Student Union in Scranton, PA. The game is open to the public, with tickets being sold at the door for students ($3) and adults ($5). Students with a Lackawanna College ID will gain free entry. There is a paid video livestream available via lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE, with Steve Young handling the play-by-play and Tom Ferguson serving as the color commentator.
 
This will be the third match-up between the two teams, with Lackawanna winning both previous match-ups. The first was an 81-72 win for the Falcons back on December 9^th at the Lackawanna Student Union. That was a game the Falcons led at the break thanks to a 10-0 run to start the second quarter, then used a 14-2 run early in the fourth to pull away from the rallying visitors. The second game was a 64-55 victory for the Falcons on the road in Edison, NJ. Lackawanna overcame an early deficit to grab the lead and never relinquish it, leaning on its defense to stay ahead of the Colts.
 
The winner of this Saturday's game advances to the Region XIX DII semi-final round, to face top-seeded Union College of NJ on Tuesday, February 27^th in Cranford, NJ. The other semi-final pits second-seed Raritan Valley CC against third-seeded Harcum College. The Region XIX championship game will be played on Saturday, March 2^nd, at the highest remaining seed's gymnasium, with the winner advancing to the District tournament.
 
About The Falcons
Before dropping its last two games of the season, Lackawanna College had won four straight games, including a crucial win over Middlesex College on the road that kick-started the run. In their final contest of the regular season, the Falcons fell 87-65 on the road to rival Union College of NJ. Lackawanna jumped ahead 20-13, and led 21-18 after one quarter of play, but the nationally-ranked Owls used their pressure defense to squeeze the Falcons, using a 10-1 run to take a lead they would never give up. Lackawanna fought hard, but just couldn't close the gap. You can read the recap HERE.
 
On the year, the Falcons are averaging 67 points per game, while giving up just under 73 per contest. Lackawanna is shooting 34.6% from the floor, but hitting on just 20.4% of its three-point attempts. The Falcons get to the free throw line fairly often, averaging 13 attempts per game, and are shooting at 62% from the line. Their opponents are shooting 39.2% overall, and are at just over 29% from downtown this year. The Falcons outrebound their opponents by a +3.5 margin, averaging 48.8 boards per game. Lackawanna is at just under 22 turnovers per contest, while forcing 18 per game this year. The Falcons average around eleven steals per game, and put up 12 assists per game as a team.
 
Desiree White (First Year; Carlisle, PA) leads the team in scoring and is one of two players in double-figures this season, averaging 17 points per game. White, a second-team All-Region selection, is at 31.8% shooter this year, and has made a team-high 39 three-point shots this year. She leads the region in free throw percentage (80.2), and is tied for second on the team with 46 steals on the year. White, who averages four rebounds per game, has 32 assists this year, fifth on the team. She has scored in double-figures in 20 of 23 games this year, going over 20 on seven different occasions. Her career-high was 34 points and seven rebounds in a win against SUNY Ulster back on January 13^th. White had 34 points on 14-for-29 shooting, put up two assists, two steals, and made four three-point shots. In two games against Middlesex this year, White has 34 points combined in two games against Middlesex this year, 15 rebounds, eleven made shots, and four steals. In the game at home, White had 14 points, six rebounds, and was 6-for-6 from the free throw line. Three weeks ago, she had 20 points and nine rebounds in a winning effort on the road.
 
Jayla South (First Year; Long Pond, PA) is second on the team with 15.3 points per game this year, averaging 6.7 rebounds per contest. South, a second-team All-Region selection, is a 40.1% shooter, and is second on the team with 25 makes from downtown. She also leads the team in free throw attempts with 118, and is a 58.5% free throw shooter this year. She's second on the team in assists (41) and leads the Falcons in steals (52) and blocks (32). South has scored in double-figures 16 times this year, and has six double-doubles on the season. South scored her career-high 32 points earlier this month in a win at Northampton, where she hit 12 shots from the floor, pulled down six rebounds, dished out four assists, and had two steals to help the Falcons secure the win. She had a career-best 18 rebounds in a win over Essex earlier this season. In two games against Middlesex this year, South has scored a combined 44 points, with 21 rebounds, four assists, four steals, and four blocks. She had 31 points and five rebounds in the win at home back in December, and managed to score 18 points despite shooting just 4-for-18, while putting up 16 rebounds in the win earlier this month in New Jersey.
 
Sophomore Nariyah Turner (Philadelphia, PA) is the lone upperclassman, averaging 9.3 points per game, third on the team. Turner, who came to Lackawanna and played last year as a forward, has had to shoulder the point guard duties this season, and has done an admirable job. She has 92 assists this year, best on the team, averaging four dimes per game. She also averages 6.7 rebounds per game, and is a 42.6% shooter on the year, tops on the team. Turner is third on the team with 45 makes from the free throw line this year, and has 37 steals, fourth on the team this season. Turner is the only Falcon player to have started all 23 games this season. She has scored in double-figures nine times this year, including four straight games during the Falcons' winning streak earlier this month. Turner has hit double-figures in rebounds five times, securing a double-double on three occasions. Her season and career-high for points came against Northampton, where she scored 28 points, pulled down seven rebounds, and posted her career-best nine assists, just missing on a triple-double. She followed that up with 19 points, 13 rebounds, and seven assists in a win against Salem CC, once again just missing a triple-double. Turner had a combined 23 points and 14 rebounds in two games against Middlesex this year, dishing out a combined eight assists and securing five combined steals. In the home game in December, she had 13 points and three rebounds, while putting up five assists in the win. On the road earlier this month, Turner had ten points, eleven rebounds, and three assists in the victory.
 
Saraiah Franklin (First Year; Philadelphia, PA) leads the Falcons in rebounding at ten boards per game, and is fourth on the team with 9.2 points per game this year. Franklin is a 37% shooter, and a 60% free throw shooter this season. She averages just under four offensive rebounds per game, and is tied with White for second on the team in total steals (46). She also has 38 assists, third on the team this year. Franklin has scored in double-figures ten times, and has six double-doubles this year. She has achieved double-digit rebounds in 12 games this season. She had a career-high 19 points in the second game of the season at Chesapeake, going 8-for-13 from the floor and securing eleven rebounds. Her season-best rebounds came against Essex County College, securing 19 boards and scoring ten points in a Falcons win. She had 18 points and ten rebounds against Union this past Tuesday. In two games against Middlesex, Franklin had a combined 16 points and 24 rebounds. She had six points and eight rebounds in the game back in December, but helped out big time in the away game three weeks ago, scoring ten points and securing 16 boards in the win for Lackawanna.
 
Zaliyah Small (First Year; Scranton, PA) rounds out the usual starters for the Falcons, scoring 3.8 points per game and pulling down 6.3 rebounds per game this season. Small is hitting around 26% of her shots, and has 19 blocks, second on the team this year. Small's 109 defensive rebounds are second overall on the team. She has scored in double-figures just once this year, coming in a win against Essex back in December, where she scored 12 points and had a season-high 14 rebounds, plus five assists and six blocks. She has gone for double-digit rebounds in five games, including four of her final five contests in the regular season. She had 12 rebounds in the loss to Union on Tuesday. Against Middlesex, Small had a combined nine points and 12 rebounds in two games. She had a great first game at home, scoring nine points and pulling down nine rebounds in the win. On the road three weeks ago, she didn't score and had three rebounds in ten minutes of action.
 
Semaji Young (First Year; Philadelphia, PA) will be the first Falcon player off the bench, averaging four points per game on the year. Young is a 27% shooter, and has 34 assists on the year from the point guard spot. She also has 14 steals in her 21 games of action. Young has two double-digit games in scoring this season, going for her season-high eleven points and six rebounds in the win over Middlesex three weeks ago in New Jersey, while also doling out five assists in the win. Young had eight points, four rebounds, and three assists in the first match-up between the two teams back in December.
 
The Falcons are led by head coach Monica Spence, now in her second season in charge. Spence is 21-24 in her two years in charge, and has now twice led the Falcons to double-digit wins in a year. Her Falcons made the Region XIX playoffs last season, before dropping a road contest at Union College of NJ. Spence, a Wilkes-Barre native, was brought in as an assistant for the Falcons in the 2021-2022 season, and was elevated to head coach after Joya Whittington's resignation from the program. Spence, who has spent time as a fitness instructor, has worked in youth basketball in Northeast PA, and was a coach at the semi-professional men's basketball level. She was also a standout player at Wilkes-Barre GAR HS.
 
About The Opponents
The Middlesex College Colts (17-10) come in as the fifth-seed in the Region XIX DII women's basketball playoffs. This was the first year the Colts have competed at the DII level, having spent last year at DIII. After dropping three straight games, including one to Lackawanna at home, the Colts have won two straight heading into the tournament, having defeated SUNY Orange County and Camden County College in consecutive games. Against the Cougars from Camden, Middlesex shot 45% and overcame 21 turnovers, turning around an early 15-11 deficit to a runaway 69-43 victory. The Colts outscored Camden 42-20 over the middle quarters.
 
On the season, the Colts are averaging 65.5 points per game, while giving up around 61.6 points per contest. Middlesex shoots 37.5% from the floor, and is hitting 31.1% from downtown. They hit around 57% of their free throws. Opponents are averaging 34.6% from the floor, and 22.8% from downtown. Middlesex owns a +4.9 rebounding margin this year, pulling down 43 rebounds per game. The Colts average 16.6 assists per game, but are committing 21.7 turnovers per game this year. They average just under 12 steals per game, and average 5.6 blocks per contest.
 
The Colts have two players averaging double-figures, with sophomore forward Vanessa Rivas leading the way at 13.4 points per game this year. Rivas is shooting 37.7% from the floor, and is a 74.7% shooter from the free throw line, leading the Colts in attempts (87) and makes (65) from the stripe. Rivas leads the Colts with eight rebounds per game, and has a team-best 3.1 blocks per game this year. She has scored in double-figures 20 times this year, with her season-high 28 points coming at Lackawanna College back in December. She made a season-best 12 shots on the day, and also set her season-high with 18 rebounds in the loss. She has seven double-doubles on the year, all from double-digit rebounds and points. Rivas scored ten points and had ten rebounds in the loss to Lackawanna three weeks ago. She had ten points and eleven rebounds in the win against Camden back on Tuesday.
 
Sophomore Courtney Hansen, a second-team All-Region selection, is second on the squad with 12.3 points per game this season. Hansen is a 41.2% shooter this season, and averages around 40.6% from downtown. Her 26 makes from deep are tied for first on the team. She's also the team-leader at 75.5% from the free throw line this season. Hansen leads the Colts with four assists per game and 2.9 steals per game, while pulling down 2.4 rebounds per contest. She has gone for double-figures in scoring 18 times this year, topping 20 on four different occasions. Her season-best came at Anne Arundel, scoring 26 in a win for the Colts on 12-for-25 shooting. She has scored a combined 36 points in two games against Lackawanna. She had 19 points in the loss in Scranton back in December, and had 17 points in the loss at home three weeks ago. She had 20 points, five assists, and three steals in the win against Camden earlier this week.
 
Damani Anderson, a first year forward, is averaging 9.2 points per game this season, third on the team. She's third on the team at 5.8 rebounds per game, and is a 42.8% shooter from the floor. She averages 2.1 steals per game, second on the team, and 2.1 assists per contest. She has scored in double-figures eleven times this year, putting up a season-best 23 points against Harcum in December, making a season-best eleven shots from the floor in the loss to the Bears. Anderson has three double-doubles this year, and has gone over double-digits in rebounds three times this season. Her best was 12 rebounds in the win over Orange last week, scoring ten points in the process while also putting up five assists. In two games against Lackawanna, she has a combined 14 points and eight rebounds. She had six points and four rebounds in the loss in Scranton in December, then had eight points and four boards in the loss at home three weeks ago.
 
Kezia Feaster is averaging 7.8 points per game this season, fourth on the team. The first year guard is averaging 38.8% from the field, and has hit 35% from downtown, tying Hansen for the team-lead in three-pointers made at 26 this year. Feaster is hitting 75% from the free throw line, and averages 3.1 rebounds per game this season. She also averages three assists per contest, and 1.7 steals per game on the year. She's scored in double-figures nine times this season, including a five-game stretch back in January. Her season-high came in the first game of the season, a 17-point performance in a dominating win over SUNY Rockland CC. She had a season-best 12 rebounds in a win against Salem CC in January, recording a double-double by scoring 15 points in the victory. She had a season-best seven assists in a three-point loss to Nassau CC back on January 20^th. She has a combined 15 points, seven rebounds, and five assists in two games against Lackawanna this year. She had just three points in a loss to the Falcons in December, and put up 12 points in the loss at home three weeks ago.
 
Angelina Peralta-Almonte is a first year forward averaging 6.6 points per game and 6.5 rebounds per contest. Her 6.5 rebounds are second on the team, and she's also averaging 1.4 blocks per contest. Peralta-Almonte is a 33.8% shooter on the season. She has scored in double-figures six times this season, She has four double-doubles this season, going for double-digit rebounds in six games. Her season-high 16 points came in a five-point win against College of Southern Maryland back in November, making seven shots and pulling down ten rebounds. She had a season-best 15 rebounds in a win against Nassau CC back in December, putting up eight points in the ten-point victory. She played just six minutes in the first game against the Falcons in Scranton, but scored three points and pulled down eight boards in the loss to the Falcons three weeks ago.
 
Longtime coach Michel Powell is the head coach for the Colts, now in her 17^th season at the helm for Middlesex. Powell, who has been in charge since the 2006-2007 season, has 267 wins in her career at Middlesex, and 400 career victories overall. Powell has won three GSAC championships in her coaching career, two in her previous six years at Essex County College, and one at Middlesex. She's been GSAC coach of the year three times, and has coached five All-Americans and three Region XIX players of the year. Powell was a graduate of Union County College, where she played basketball for two years, before transferring to Kean University. She was a part of the Kean squad that made the 1987 Final Four, and was inducted into the Kean University Athletic Hall of Fame in 2021.
 
Game Information
The match-up between Lackawanna and Middlesex will serve as the play-in game of the Region XIX DII Women's Basketball playoffs. Tip is scheduled for 1:00pm ET on Saturday, February 24^th, from the Lackawanna College Student Union in Scranton, PA. The game is open to the public, with tickets being sold at the door for students ($3) and adults ($5). Students with a Lackawanna College ID will gain free entry. There is a paid video livestream available via lackawannafalcons.com/LIVE, with Steve Young handling the play-by-play and Tom Ferguson serving as the color commentator.
 
The way the Region XIX bracket looks right now is:
 
Saturday 2/24
(5) Middlesex at (4) Lackawanna; 1pm ET
 
Tuesday 2/27
(3) Harcum at (2) Raritan Valley, 6pm ET
Middlesex/Lackawanna at (1) Union County College, 6pm ET
 
Saturday 3/2
Region XIX WBB DII Championship Game (@ Highest Remaining Seed)
 
A win, and the Falcons advance to face Union County College on Tuesday evening in Cranford in the Region XIX semi-finals. A loss, and it will be Middlesex advancing, and Lackawanna's season will come to an end.