WILKES-BARRE – Leanne Forsyth scored a game-high 20 points leading three Cougars in double figures as visiting Misericordia University posted a 78-52 win at Wilkes University Wednesday night in MAC Freedom play at the Marts Center.
 
With the defeat Wilkes remains winless in conferences play at 0-7 while standing 4-13 overall. Misericordia improved to 11-6 overall and 5-2 in league games.
 
Both teams traded baskets early with either team gaining the upper hand. Misericordia used an 11-2 run midway through the first quarter to gain a 16-7 lead before Wilkes came storming back with buckets from Ashley Caster (York, PA/Spring Grove) and a three-pointer from Amber Grohowski (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke) cut the advantage to 20-16 with second remaining in the frame.
 
The Cougars stretched their lead to start the second stanza to its largest of the half up 29-16 with 7:54 on the clock. A Sierra Smith (Syracuse, NY/West Genesse) layup and three-point play from Asdone Hooper (Hanover, PA/Hanover Area) kept the Lady Colonels close down 29-24 with 5:00 remaining in the half. Misericordia used the foul line late in the frame to secure another double digit lead before an Ashley Haywood (Stuyvesant, NY/Virginia Episcopal) score left Wilkes behind 38-30 at the break.
 
The Misericordia lead went from eight to 21 points four minutes into the third quarter thanks to buckets from Forsyth and a pair of three-pointers from Shannon Croasdale. The Cougars continued their hot shooting over the final five minutes of the frame converting on seven of eight shots to take a 63-37 advantage to the fourth quarter.
 
Back-to-back layups from Gianna Roberts (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke) brought Wilkes to within twenty at 63-43 early in the fourth, but Misericordia continued to keep the pressure on offensively coasting to a 26-point win in the process.
 
Roberts led Wilkes offensively with nine points and three rebounds. Alyssa Alfano (Dunmore, PA/Holy Cross) and Caster each added eight points and combined for five boards. Wilkes shot just 28.1 percent (18-64) from the floor and made two of fifteen shots from behind the arc.
 
Forsyth added nine rebounds and five assists to her game-high 20 tallies. Paige Wampole followed with 12 points and eight boards while Rachel Carmody finished with 10 points and seven caroms. Misericordia shot 44.8 percent (30-67) from the field and 42.9 percent (6-14) from long range. The Cougars also held a 58-36 advantage on the glass throughout leading to 13 second chance points.
 
The Lady Colonels continue MAC Freedom play starting the second half of the league slate Saturday at Delaware Valley University at 1:00 p.m. in Doylestown, Pa. Wilkes fell 75-58 against the Aggies in the Marts Center two weeks ago.