WILKES-BARRE – The Wilkes University women's basketball team led late but were edged out in the end by Penn State Schuylkill 61-56 Thursday night at the Marts Center.

Wilkes fell to 3-5 this season while Penn State Schuylkill improved to 6-3.

The Lady Lions opened the game by scoring the first seven points before Jamie Campbell (Cinnaminson, NJ/Cinnaminson) hit a jumper to put the Lady Colonels on the board with 6:52 left in the first quarter. Penn State Schuylkill would continue to control the quarter and took a 17-7 lead into the first break.

The Lady Lions lead grew to as many as 14 points at 23-9 with 8:06 left in the second quarter but Wilkes would finish the half on a 17-4 run to trail 27-26 at halftime. The Lady Colonels were aided by going 8-of-10 from the free-throw line in the half.

Wilkes used a five-point run with two layups by Emily Sofranko (Jim Thorpe, PA/Marian Catholic) and a free throw by Chelsea Erkes (Wernersville, PA/Conrad Weiser) to take its first lead of the game at 32-31 with 5:52 left in the third quarter. A layup by Campbell off a pass by Maddie Kelley (Dallas, PA/Dallas) and then two free-throws from Gianna Roberts (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke) gave the Lady Colonels their biggest lead of the game at 44-40 with 57 seconds left in the third.

Makenna Rushannon hit her third three-pointer of the quarter to pull Penn State Schuylkill to within one point at 44-43 heading into the fourth quarter.

A great crossover move in the lane by Alyssa Alfano (Dunmore, PA/Holy Cross) led to a layup and put Wilkes ahead 48-47 with 7:20 left. An Erkes three-pointer and then a Sofranko layup tied the score at 51 and 53 respectively for the Lady Colonels.

Erkes put the Lady Colonels ahead 56-53 with another make from behind the arc with 2:18 left but the Lady Lions closed on an 8-0 run to take the victory 61-56.

Alfano led Wilkes with 12 points and she also had six rebounds and three steals. Roberts joined her in double figures with 10 points and she also had three rebounds, three steals, and two blocks. Erkes scored a season-high nine points. Sofranko scored eight points and tied a career-high with seven rebounds. She also had five assists and three steals. Kelsey Yustat (Hunlock Creek, PA/Northwest Area) had career-highs with six points and three rebounds and Kelley recorded a career-best six rebounds.

Rushannon led Penn State Schuylkill with 18 points and Morgan Edge added 13. Caitria Bowen had a double-double with 10 points and 11 rebounds. She also added six blocks.

The Lady Colonels close out a stretch of four games in six days when they welcome No. 25 Juniata College to the Marts Center on Saturday for a 1:00 p.m. tip.