WILKES-BARRE – Host Wilkes University shot a season-low 18.5 percent from the field dropping a 49-28 decision to visiting Eastern University in both teams' MAC Freedom opener Wednesday night in the Marts Center.
 
With the loss Wilkes slips to 1-5 overall and 0-1 in league games while Eastern improves to 5-1 on the year, 1-0 in conference contests.
 
The Lady Colonels struggled from the floor the entire game digging themselves a 28-15 hole at halftime. The Eastern lead grew to as many as 15 points midway through the third quarter before the Eagles scored the first six points in the fourth quarter to take a commanding 46-26 with 4:34 left in the contest.
 
Catey McFadden (Doylestown, PA/Archbishop Wood) led all Wilkes scorers with eight points and five rebounds. Chelsea Smelas (Jim Thorpe, PA/Jim Thorpe) and Cara Basile (Whitehall, PA/Whitehall) each added six points and combined for 17 rebounds. Wilkes shot just 10-for-54 from the field and 2-for-21 from three-point range in the loss.
 
Reggie Washington finished with a team-high 15 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to lead Eastern. Emily Lavin followed with 12 points, nine rebounds and  four blocks.
 
Wilkes continues its MAC Freedom schedule Saturday traveling to Purchase, N.Y. for a 1:00 p.m. matchup with Manhattanville College.