WILKES-BARRE – Host Wilkes University outscored Alvernia University 44-28 over the second and third quarters on way to a 76-65 victory at the Marts Center on Tuesday night.
 
Wilkes evens its mark at 2-2 following the home non-conference win while Alvernia drops to 0-4 after the defeat on the season.
 
Wilkes built its lead over the second and third quarter thanks to its pressure defense and hot shooting from the floor. A 7-0 run over the first four minutes of the third frame capped off by an Alyssa Alfano (Dunmore, PA/Holy Cross) three-pointer pushed the lead to 45-27. The advantage grew to as many as twenty after Missy Oertner (Schnecksville, PA/Parkland) and Emily Sofranko (Jim Thorpe, PA/Marian Catholic) scored on back-to-back steals and layups.
 
Alvernia cut the Wilkes lead down to eleven on two different occasions in the fourth quarter, but baskets from Meinhart and a trey from Mesaros kept the Lady Colonels ahead for good over the final six minutes of play.
 
Wilkes jumped out to a 9-4 lead early in the first quarter only to see Alvernia battle back and take its first lead of the game at 13-12 following a Maddie Thorton three-pointer. Three straight inside scores from Mesaros, Meinhart and Asdone Hooper (Hanover, PA/Hanover Area) put the Lady Colonels ahead 24-20 before Hooper added a transition trey to push the advantage to seven with 6:36 left in the first half. Wilkes continued to build on the lead using buckets from Sierra Smith (Syracuse, NY/West Genesse) and Gianna Roberts (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke) to take its largest lead of the game up 38-27 at the break.
 
Mesaros led a trio of Lady Colonels in double figures posting 11 points on 5-for-11 shooting. Roberts and Meinhart each followed with ten points combining for 16 rebounds. Hooper and Alfano contributed eight points each.
 
Wilkes took advantage of the Alvernia turnovers throughout the game and especially over the runs in the second and third quarters converting the miscues into 34 points.
 
Maya Cooper topped Alvernia with 14 points and seven assists.
 
Wilkes returns to action following the Thanksgiving break this weekend playing at the first annual Cross County Challenge hosted by the University of Scranton. Wilkes plays Marywood University on Saturday at 7:00 p.m. before a date with host Scranton on Sunday at 7:00 p.m.