CENTER VALLEY, PA – Leandra Sterner scored a game-high 18 points including three three-pointers to lead host DeSales University to a 78-50 victory over Wilkes University Wednesday night in MAC Freedom play at Billera Hall.
 
Wilkes slips to 4-11 overall and remains winless at 0-5 in MAC Freedom games. DeSales improves to 12-4 and 4-1 in league play following the home win.
 
Scores from Catey McFadden (Doylestown, PA/Archbishop Wood) and Emelie Meinhart (Bowmanstown, PA/Palmerton) tied the game at 4-4 early in the first quarter before the Bulldogs went on a 19-9 run to end the opening stanza taking a 23-13 lead through one frame.
 
The DeSales advantage grew to as many as 16 points through the second quarter before buckets from Emily Sofranko (Jim Thorpe, PA/Marian Catholic) and McFadden kept the Lady Colonels within striking distance down 42-28 at the half.
 
The Bulldogs continued to hit from inside and out to start the second half thanks to two treys from Sterner during a 14-4 run over the final five minutes of the third quarter. DeSales took its largest lead of the game midway through the fourth using transition scores from Strerner and Megan Baird to do its damage.
 
Sofranko led two Lady Colonels in double figures with 11 points and four rebounds. Haley Mesaros (Royersford, PA/Pope John Paul II) followed with 10 points, three rebounds and three assists. Wilkes shot 31.3 percent from the field and just 15.8 percent from behind the arc throughout.
 
Sterner led all DeSales players with 18 points on 7-for-11 shooting including the three treys. Morgan McCollian finished with 13 points and five boards while Katie Miller added 11 points and four helpers. DeSales shot 46.8 percent from the field including outscoring the Wilkes bench 27-13.
 
Wilkes continues its MAC Freedom road stretch Saturday traveling to cross-town rival King's College for a league matchup starting at 1:00 p.m.