Here is a weekly wrap-up of University of Scranton athletic events during the period of Monday, Nov. 15, through Sunday, Nov. 21. To see the full link to the Royal Review, visit http://matrix.scranton.edu/athletics/gnnov222010.shtml.

Men’s Basketball (2-0 Overall/0-0 Landmark Conference)
The Royals defeated Arcadia University, 81-53, and Centenary College, 77-65, to win the season-opening Radisson Invitational on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 19-20, at the Long Center. It was Scranton’s third title in the tournament’s nine-year history and its first since 2005.

On Friday evening against Arcadia, senior guard Zach Ashworth (Doylestown/Central Bucks West) scored a game-high 21 points and junior guard Dan Hilferty (Ardmore/Episcopal Academy) and sophomore guard Travis Farrell (Middletown, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) added 13 and 10 points, respectively. The Royals connected on 8 of 10 3-point field goal attempts (80 percent) in the second half alone to break away from a 37-30 halftime lead.

In the championship game Saturday afternoon against Centenary, Ashworth scored 14 of his game-high 20 points in the second half as Scranton erased a four-point halftime deficit.  For his efforts, he was named the tournament’s most valuable player (MVP).  Joining him on the all-tournament team was junior forward Matt Swaback (Kingston/Wyoming Seminary), who scored a career-high 17 points against Centenary, while Farrell finished with 10 points and a career-high 12 rebounds and senior guard Luke Hawk (Audubon/Methacton) had 16 points and six assists.

Women’s Basketball (1-2 Overall/0-0 Landmark Conference)
Behind a 15-point, 6-rebound, 6-steal effort from senior guard Megan Kopecki (Millington, N.J./Watchung Hills Regional), the Lady Royals tipped off their 2010-2011 season with a 58-46 victory over Montclair State on Tuesday, Nov. 16, at the Long Center. 

On Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 20-21, the Lady Royals competed in the Starters Pub Tip-Off Tournament at DeSales University in Center Valley, Pennsylvania. In the opening round, Scranton fell behind early — trailing by 24 points at intermission — before dropping a 71-62 decision to William Paterson University. Things didn’t get much better Sunday afternoon against DeSales, as the Lady Royals fell behind by nine points at intermission and went on to lose 77-63. Kopecki finished with 31 points in two games to earn a spot on the all-tournament team. 

Men’s Swimming (2-3)
The Royals managed only one first-place finish in dropping a 175-87 decision to Susquehanna University on Sunday, Nov. 21, in Selinsgrove.

Scranton’s lone first-place finish was recorded by junior Marc Dezii (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West), who won the 200 freestyle in 1:48.19.  He also finished second in the 100 free (:49.21). 

The Royals also received runner-up finishes from sophomore Nathan Wynosky (Schnecksville/Parkland) in the 1000 free (10:34.16) and Stephen Nicolosi (Clarks Green/Abington Heights) in the 50 free (:22.71), freshmen John Hughes (Lancaster/Lancaster Catholic) in the 100 breaststroke (1:03.52) and Adrian Silva (Valley Stream, N.Y./Holy Trinity Diocesan) in the 200 butterfly (2:04.85), and juniors Paul Vignati (West Simsbury, Conn./Northwest Catholic) in the 50 free (:22.71) and David Hovey (Forty Fort/Wyoming Valley West) in the 200 individual medley (2:22.92).

Women’s Swimming (4-2)
Strong finishes in the relay events propelled the Royals to a 137-125 victory over Susquehanna University on Sunday, Nov. 21, in Selinsgrove.

Each team won seven events apiece, but the Royals picked up 26 critical points by placing first and third in each of the relay events.

Scranton opened the meet with a first-place finish in the 200 medley relay, as junior Christine Gorge (Harleysville/Lansdale Catholic), seniors Amie Leonard (Sparta, N.J./Pope John Paul XXIII) and Brittany Reyes (Westfield, N.J./Westfield), and junior Carolyn Gillespie (New Market, Md./Linganore) covered the distance in 1:55.37.  The Royals sealed up the victory in the final event, as first-year swimmers Sara Franciscovich (Frederick, Md./Gov. Thomas Johnson), Jessica Merino (N. Hyde Park, N.Y./Holy Trinity Diocesan) and Kelsy McAnelly (West Chester/Villa Maria Academy) and Gillespie placed first in 3:47.01.  In between, the Royals finished first in five individual events and had seven runner-up finishes.

Leonard was a double-winner, taking home first-place in the 100 (1:10.42) and 200 (2:34.44) breaststroke, and was joined in winner’s circle by Merino in the 50 free (:26.59), Gillespie in the 100 free (:55.19), and sophomore Colleen Logan (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) in the 500 free (5:34.37).

Wrestling (3-3)
The Royals opened the period with a 33-15 loss to Washington & Jefferson College on Thursday, November 18, at the Long Center.

Freshman Nick Proto (Matawan, N.J./Matawan Regional) picked up his third win of the season with a 4-3 decision in the 141-pound weight class.  On Saturday, November 20, he won three of his five matches in the same weight class at the Red Dragon Invitational on the campus of Oneonta State University Saturday evening.

Five other Royal wrestlers—freshmen Ryan Giovanetti (Ridgewood, N.J./Ridgewood) and Chris Silakoski (Trenton, N.J./Notre Dame), sophomore Frank Siclari (Emerson, N.J./St. Joseph’s Regional) and juniors Matt Terry (East Northport, N.Y./St. Anthony’s) and Kevin Williams (Belleville, N.J./St. Peter’s Preparatory)—posted 2-2 records in their respective weight classes.

As a team, Scranton finished 10th overall.

Here is the upcoming schedule for The University of Scranton's athletic teams:

Tuesday, Nov. 23

Men’s Basketball – at Misericordia (7:30 p.m.)
Women’s Basketball – KING’S (7 p.m., LONG CENTER)

Sunday, November 28
Men’s Basketball – ELIZABETHTOWN (3 p.m., LONG CENTER)