Here is a weekly wrap-up of University of Scranton athletic events. To see the full link to the Royal Review, visit http://matrix.scranton.edu/athletics/gnjan102011.shtml.

Men’s Basketball (10-2 Overall/3-0 Landmark Conference)
The Royals extended their season-long winning streak to eight games—the third longest winning streak in Carl Danzig’s 10-year tenure as head coach—and remained tied for first place with Susquehanna University in the Landmark Conference standings with two victories during the week.

On Saturday, Jan. 8, senior guard Zach Ashworth (Doylestown/Central Bucks West) scored 18 of his team-high 21 points in the second half as the Royals pulled away from a one-point halftime lead to defeat Drew University, 79-66, at the Long Center. 

Scranton, which shot nearly 59 percent from the field in the second half, also received 16 points and six rebounds from junior forward Matt Swaback (Kingston/Wyoming Seminary), 15 points, four rebounds and two steals from sophomore guard Travis Farrell (Middletown, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) and 12 points from senior guard Luke Hawk (Audubon/Methacton).

The following day, the Royals jumped out to a 40-20 halftime lead and led by 27 points with less than 18 minutes remaining, before holding off a late rally to defeat the Merchant Marine Academy, 76-68.  Ashworth came through in the clutch again, scoring 17 of his game-high 22 points in the second half, and Hawk finished with 15 points—all in the first half.  Scranton also received a big lift off the bench from sophomore guard Tim Lavelle (Clarks Green/Scranton Preparatory), who scored a season-high 10 points, pulled down two rebounds, handed out two assists and made a steal in 13 minutes of action.

Women’s Basketball (9-4 Overall/3-0 Landmark Conference)
Mike Strong reached another impressive milestone in his 31-year career as head coach this past week.

On Sunday, Jan. 9, Strong coached his 900th game with the Lady Royals, leading them to an 82-51 victory over the Merchant Marine Academy in the second game of a Landmark Conference home stand at the Long Center. 

On Saturday, Scranton topped Drew University, 63-36, behind 14 points from senior guard Megan Kopecki (Millington, N.J./Watchung Hills Regional), eight from senior guard Colleen McLane (Scranton/Scranton Preparatory) and six each off the bench from junior guard Sidney Jaques (Rosemont, N.J./Hunterdon Central), sophomore guard KC Hawkes (Binghamton, N.Y./Seton Central Catholic) and junior forward Shernai Bentley (Warwick, N.Y./Warwick Valley).

With senior guard Jennifer King (Taylor/Riverside) sidelined due to a shoulder injury, first-year guard Alison Sweeney (Wall, N.J./Saint Rose) replaced her in the starting lineup and responded with a season-high 25-point performance in Sunday’s win over the Merchant Marine Academy.  Sweeney made 10 of 16 shots from the field to eclipse her previous season-high of 13 points in the Lady Royals’ 68-53 win over St. Mary’s (Md.) in the opening round of the Days Inn Tournament at Gettysburg College on Jan. 2.

Scranton is currently alone in first place in the Landmark Conference standings.

Men’s Swimming (3-4)
The Royals returned to action for the first time since Dec. 1 and dropped a 123-92 decision to three-time defending Landmark Conference champion Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, N.Y.

Scranton received a first-place finish in the 100 backstroke by sophomore Christian Tierney (Sussex, N.J./Pope John Paul XXIII) in a time of :57.03. The Royals’ other first-place finish was recorded by the 200 freestyle relay team of sophomore Andrew Urban (Ambler/Lansdale Catholic) and juniors Joseph Clifford (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown East), Marc Dezii (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West) and Paul Vignati (West Simsbury, Conn./Northwest Catholic) in a time of 1:29.80, barely edging out teammates Tierney, sophomore Jeffrey Aube (Cambridge, Mass./Boston College High School) and juniors Phil Malley (Honeoye Falls, N.Y./Honeoye Falls-Lima) and Thomasz Chec (Vineland, N.J./St. Augustine Preparatory) who finished in an identical time of 1:29.80.

The Royals opened the meet with a second-place finish in the 400 medley, as the quartet of Tierney, freshman John Hughes (Lancaster/Lancaster Catholic), junior Andrew Kelly (Maple Glen/St. Joseph’s Preparatory) and Vignati covered the distance in 3:45.66.

Scranton also received a pair of runner-up finishes by Dezii and fellow junior David Hovey (Forty Fort/Wyoming Valley West). Dezii was second in the 100 (:50.72) and 200 (1:48.99) freestyle, while Hovey finished runner-up in the 100 breaststroke (1:04.44) and the 200 individual medley (2:08.94).  The Royals’ other runner-up finishes were recorded by Clifford in the 100 butterfly (:56.85) and sophomore Nathan Wynosky (Schnecksville/Parkland) in the 500 free (5:09.99).

Women’s Swimming (6-2)
Like the men’s team, the Royals returned to action for the first time since Dec. 1.  The women’s team, however, had better luck, winning both relays and finishing first in eight individual events as Scranton defeated the Merchant Marine Academy, 142-91, on Saturday, Jan. 8, in Kings Point, N.Y.

Scranton jumped out to an early 11-4 lead by winning the 400 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 first-year swimmer Jessica Merino (New Hyde Park, N.Y./Holy Trinity Diocesan) covered the distance in 4:18.67. Scranton closed out the meet by finishing first in the 200 free in 1:43.44, behind the effort of first-year swimmer Sara Franciscovich (Frederick, Md./Gov. Thomas Johnson), Merino, Reyes, and junior Carolyn Gillespie (New Market, Md./Linganore).

Gillespie also posted first-place finishes in the 100 (:57.13) and 200 (2:03.65) freestyle.  Joining her on the victory stand were sophomore Colleen Logan (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) in the 1000 free (11:34.88), Merino in the 50 free (:26.36), first-year swimming Colleen McMahon (West Chester, Pa./Villa Maria Academy) in the 200 individual medley (2:25.95), Reyes in the 100 fly (1:04.38), Franciscovich in the 100 backstroke (1:05.74) and Leonard in the 100 breaststroke (1:12.05).

Wrestling (3-3)
The wrestling team did not compete during the period.

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

Friday, Jan. 14
Men’s Basketball - JUNIATA (LONG CENTER, 5:30 p.m.)
Women’s Basketball - JUNIATA (LONG CENTER, 7:30 p.m.)

Saturday, Jan. 15
Men’s Basketball - SUSQUEHANNA (LONG CENTER, 2 p.m.)
Women’s Basketball - SUSQUEHANNA (LONG CENTER, 4 p.m.)
Men’s & Women’s Swimming - CATHOLIC (BYRON CENTER, 1 p.m.)
Wrestling – at Washington & Lee Tournament (10 a.m.)