SELINSGROVE, PA – Morgan Edge scored the game-winning basket with five seconds remaining to lift Valley Forge University to a 78-77 victory over Wilkes University Sunday afternoon in the consolation game of the Susquehanna University Tip-Off Tournament.
 
Wilkes falls to 1-2 overall following the one-point defeat while Valley Forge picks up its first win of the young season standing 1-2 on the year.
 
Valley Forge held a slim five-point lead midway through the fourth quarter after Jhanel Brown scored in the paint. Haley Mesaros (Royersford, PA/Pope John Paul II) answered with a bucket on the other end and following a Valley Forge missed layup, Mesaros rang true from behind the arc tying the game at 62 with 6:52 left on the clock.
 
Wilkes forced a Valley Forge turnover and Missy Oertner (Schnecksville, PA/Parkland) converted a three-point play to put the Lady Colonels ahead 65-52 one minute later. Edge answered back for Valley Forge scoring the game's next three points tying the score at 65 with 4:51 remaining.
 
The teams traded baskets over the next three and a half minutes before Valley Forge opened up a four-point advantage with 1:19 to go. Ashley Caster (York, PA/Spring Grove) scored on a mid-range jumper and following a Valley Forge missed three-point attempt, Gianna Roberts (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke) made one of two free throws to cut the lead to 75-74 with :29 left.
 
Valley Forge converted one of two free throws after being fouled on the ensuing possession, but the lead was short-lived as Ashley Haywood (Stuyvesant, NY/Virginia Episcopal) took a drive down the right side of the lane scoring the layup and being fouled to put Wilkes ahead in the closing seconds. Haywood's free throw gave Wilkes a 77-76 lead with :11 left and setup the final possession for Valley Forge.
 
From there Edge took a pass on the right wing and drove the center of the lane flipping up a shot that rolled around the rim and fell in with five seconds on the clock. Wilkes had one last second chance at a long shot attempt from three-quarter court, but Oertner's shot was mishandled and stolen as Valley Forge escaped with the dramatic victory.
 
Valley Forge led 39-31 at the half before Wilkes outscored its opponent 24-15 over the third quarter to take a 55-54 advantage into the final quarter of play.
 
Caster led all Wilkes scorers in the game coming off the bench to score 14 points on 7-for-13 shooting from the floor. Roberts added 13 points while Alyssa Alfano (Dunmore, PA/Holy Cross) chipped in with 10 points. Oertner finished with 11 points and a game-high five steals. Mesaros added five points on way to being named to the All-Tournament team after posting a team-high 11 points one game prior.
 
Edge paced Valley Forge with a game-high 23 points including the game-winning score on 9-for-17 shooting from the field. Bailey Mayforth followed with 16 points while Brown added 13 points and a game-high 10 rebounds.
 
Wilkes returns home on Tuesday hosting Alvernia University at 6:00 p.m. in a non-conference contest at the Marts Center.