PURCHASE, N.Y. – Host Manhattanville College outscored Wilkes University 40-16 in the paint cruising to a 76-42 MAC Freedom victory Saturday afternoon at the Kennedy Gym.
 
Wilkes slipped to 4-8 overall and 0-2 in conference play following the loss while Manhattanville recorded its first MAC Freedom win of the season improving to 5-7 overall and 1-1 on league play.
 
Manhattanville stormed out to a double-digit lead at the half scoring 11 of its 12 first half baskets in the paint. After trailing by three after Wilkes' Missy Oertner (Schnecksville, PA/Parkland) drained a three-pointer on the Lady Colonels first possession of the game, the host Valiants answered with back-to-back sores inside then never looked back outscoring Wilkes 29-14 over the first two quarters of play.
 
A 15-0 Manhattanville run over the first six minutes of the third quarter put the game out of reach as the Valiants led 47-21 after three frames.
 
Ashley Caster (York, PA/Spring Grove) scored back-to-back buckets followed by free throws from Emelie Meinhart (Bowmanstown, PA/Palmerton) to cut the Manhattanville advantage to 47-27 early in the fourth quarter, but another 12-0 run pushed the lead up to thirty as the Valiants cruised to their first conference win of the season.
 
Oertner was the lone Wilkes player in double figures finishing with a team-high 11 points, four rebounds and two steals. Haley Mesaros (Royersford, PA/Pope John Paul II) followed with six points and four boards. Wilkes struggled shooting from the floor finishing just 26 percent (13-50) and 23.5 percent (4-15) from behind the arc.
 
Ivy Coles was one of two Manhattanville players in double figures scoring a game-high 15 points while adding three steals defensively. Kayleah McGuire followed with 13 points, nine rebounds and four steals.
 
Wilkes returns home Wednesday hosting Delaware Valley University in a 6:00 p.m. MAC Freedom matchup at the Marts Center.