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/gnjan242011.shtml.

Men’s Basketball (14-2 Overall/7-0 Landmark Conference)
The Royals opened up a three-game lead in the Landmark Conference standings by extending their season-long winning streak to 12 games with two victories on the road. 

On Friday, Jan. 21, senior guard Zach Ashworth (Doylestown/Central Bucks West) scored a career-high 31 points and freshman guard Tommy Morgan (Greenlawn, N.Y./Chaminade) finished with 11 points and five rebounds as the Royals defeated preseason favorite Catholic University, 78-68, at the DuFour Center in Washington, DC.  Scranton also received nine points and 10 rebounds from sophomore guard Travis Farrell (Middletown, N.J./Christian Brothers Academy) and nine points from senior guard Luke Hawk (Audubon/Methacton).

The following day, Ashworth scored 11 of his game-high 20 points in the first half as the Royals opened up an 11-point halftime lead en route to a 70-47 victory over Goucher College in Towson, Md. Junior forward Matt Swaback (Kingston/Wyoming Seminary) recorded the first ‘double-double’ of his career with 11 points and 10 rebounds and Farrell finished with 13 points and six rebounds.   

Women’s Basketball (12-5 Overall/6-1 Landmark Conference)
The Lady Royals won a pair of road games to remain in a tie for first place with Moravian College in the Landmark Conference standings.

Senior guard Megan Kopecki (Millington, N.J./Watchung Hills Regional) reached a personal milestone in Scranton’s 76-60 victory over Catholic University on Friday, Jan. 21, at the DuFour Center in Washington, D.C.  She scored 17 points to become one of only five players in Lady Royals’ history to score at least 1,500 career points.  Kopecki also pulled down a 10 rebounds to post the first ‘double-double’ of her career.  First-year guard Alison Sweeney (Wall, N.J./St. Rose) came off the bench to contribute 10 points and junior forward Sarah Gage (Ledgewood, N.J./Roxbury) and junior guard Sidney Jaques (Rosemont, N.J./Hunterdon Central) chipped in nine points apiece.

On Saturday, Jan. 22, first-year guard Katie Cunningham (Garden City, N.Y./Kellenberg Memorial) started in place of Kopecki, who suffered a minor injury Friday, and made four 3-point field goals en route to a season-high 16-point effort in leading Scranton to a 71-48 win over Goucher College in Towson, Md.  Senior guard Jennifer King (Taylor/Riverside) finished with 12 points and six rebounds and Sweeney had 10 points as the Lady Royals took firm command by bolting out to a 32-19 halftime lead.

Men’s Swimming (5-5)
The Royals competed in two meets during the period, dropping a 155-107 decision to Rowan University on Monday, Jan. 17, at the Byron Center before posting a 132-130 win over Misericordia University on Saturday, Jan. 22, at the Anderson Center in Dallas, Pennsylvania.

Junior David Hovey (Forty Fort/Wyoming Valley West) won the 200 breaststroke (2:21.08) and the 200 individual medley (2:09.03) and junior Joseph Clifford (Nesconset, N.Y./Smithtown East) captured first-place honors in the 200 butterfly (2:06.32) against Rowan. The Royals also won the 200 medley relay, as sophomore Christian Tierney (Sussex, N.J./Pope John Paul XXIII), freshman John Hughes (Lancaster/Lancaster Catholic) and sophomores Stephen Nicolosi (Clarks Green/Abington Heights) and Andrew Urban (Ambler/Lancaster Catholic) covered the distance in 1:41.21.

In Saturday’s win over Misericordia, Clifford won two individual events—the 1650 free (18:24.31) and the 200 free (2:06.79)—finished runner-up in another—the 500 free (5:15.93)—and swam the second leg on the second-place finishing 400 freestyle relay. Fellow junior Marc Dezii (Cherry Hill, N.J./Cherry Hill West) also had a productive day, winning the 200 (2:02.84) and 500 free (5:11.41).

Women’s Swimming (7-4)
The Royals suffered back-to-back losses, losing to Rowan University, 154-108, on Monday, Jan. 17, at the Byron Center and to Misericordia University, 135-127, on Saturday, Jan. 22, in Dallas.

Junior Carolyn Gillespie (New Market, Md./Linganore) had a big week for the Royals, winning a combined eight events during the period.  She won the 50 (:25.52) and 200 (2:01.89) free and swam the anchor leg on the 200 medley and 400 free relays that finished first in 1:55.11 and 3:46.40, respectively, against Rowan.  Scranton’s other first-place finish was recorded by senior Amie Leonard (Sparta, N.J./Pope John Paul XXIII) in the 100 breaststroke (1:11.11).

Gillespie was in the winner’s circle four more times against Misericordia, winning the 50 (:25.57), 100 (:56.18) and 200 free (2:02.84) and swimming the anchor leg on the first-place finishing 400 freestyle relay (3:46.90).  Scranton’s other first-place finishes were recorded by first-year swimmer Sara Franciscovich (Frederick, Md./Gov. Thomas Johnson) in the 200 backstroke (2:19.51), sophomore Colleen Logan (Garden City, N.Y./Garden City) in the 1650 free (19:20.44) and senior Allison Sampson (Sugarloaf/Hazleton Area) in the 200 fly (2:21.54).

Wrestling (3-3)
Behind runner-up finishes from senior Luke Genovese (Yorktown Heights, N.Y./Yorktown) and sophomore Vinny Signoriello (Manalapan, N.J./Manalapan), the Royals placed fourth at the Builder Invitational on Saturday, Jan/ 22, on the campus of The Apprentice School in Newport News, Va.

The Royals also received a third-place showing from sophomore Michael Murcia (Matawan, N.J./Matawan Regional) and fourth-place finishes from sophomore Frank Siclari (Emerson, N.J./St. Joseph’s Regional) and freshman Chris Silakoski (Trenton, N.J./Notre Dame).  Signoriello won two of his three matches to improve to 10-2 on the season and 30-13 in his career.

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

This Week in Royal Athletics

Wednesday, Jan. 26
Women’s Basketball – MESSIAH (7 p.m., LONG CENTER)
Wrestling - at Muhlenberg (7:30 p.m.)

Friday, Jan. 28
Men’s Basketball - at Merchant Marine Academy (7:30 p.m.)
Women’s Basketball - at Merchant Marine Academy (5:30 p.m.)

Saturday, Jan. 29
Men’s Basketball - at Drew (4 p.m.)
Women’s Basketball - at Drew (2 p.m.)
Men’s & Women’s Swimming - DREW (1 p.m., BYRON CENTER)

Sunday, Jan. 30
Wrestling- at Yeshiva (noon)