SCRANTON, PA – Marywood University outscored Wilkes 20-10 over the final quarter erasing a seven-point deficit on way to a 74-71 victory in game two of the Cross County Challenge hosted by the University of Scranton in the John Long Center on Saturday night.
 
With the loss Wilkes slips to 2-3 overall on the season while Marywood evens its overall mark at 2-2 on the year.
 
Wilkes took a slim 38-37 lead into the halftime break in a first twenty minutes that went back-and-forth between the teams. Alyssa Alfano (Dunmore, PA/Holy Cross) led the charge for Wilkes scoring ten of her 13 points in the first half of play including two three-pointers to give the Lady Colonels the advantage.
 
Wilkes pushed its advantage up to eleven when Nicole Farrell (Blairstown, NJ/North Warren) scored back-to-back buckets inside to give the Lady Colonels a 61-50 lead with :54 left in the third quarter. Marywood scored the frames next four points to close out the stanza down 61-54 heading into the deciding final ten minutes.
 
The Pacers used an 8-0 run to start the fourth quarter to take its first lead of the second half up 62-61 thanks to two consecutive treys and a transition score. The teams traded baskets before Emily Sofranko (Jim Thorpe, PA/Marian Catholic) buried a three-pointer to give Wilkes the lead back up 69-66 with 2:42 remaining.
 
Two free throws from Alfano kept Wilkes out front by two 71-69, but a jumper from Marywood's Natasha Hessling tied the game and subsequent Wilkes turnover led to Gab Giordano's layup with seven seconds left to put the Pacers ahead 73-71. Wilkes had one last chance at a tie or win, but Haley Mesaros (Royersford, PA/Pope John Paul II) was off the mark driving to the hoop and Marywood claimed the rebound where Wilkes was forced to foul sealing the win for the Pacers.
 
Alfano led Wilkes with a career-high 13 points on 7-for-8 shooting from the foul line. Mesaros added 10 points and five rebounds.
 
Hessling and Giordano paced Marywood with 17 points each.
 
Wilkes concludes play at the tournament tomorrow (Sunday) with a matchup against No. 3 Scranton at 7:00 p.m. The Lady Royals were 89-53 winners over King's in the opening game on Saturday.