MADISON, NJ – Four-time defending MAC Freedom champion FDU-Florham raced out to a 27-9 lead after one quarter and never looked back posting a 71-42 victory over visiting Wilkes University Wednesday night at Ferguson Gymnasium.
 
Wilkes slipped to 5-15 overall and 0-9 in league play while FDU-Florham improved to 17-3 overall and 8-1 in conference games.
 
Wilkes tried to climb back into the game midway through the second quarter using a three-pointer from Catey McFadden (Doylestown, PA/Archbishop Wood) and transition score from Missy Oertner (Schnecksville, PA/Parkland) to cut the Devils lead to 33-15 with 2:56 left in the half. After a Emily Sofranko (Jim Thorpe, PA/Marian Catholic) conversion from the free throw line, FDU-Florham rattled off three straight scores to take a 40-18 advantage to the break.
 
FDU-Florham continued its full-court pressure defense into the second half keeping the offensive attack on Wilkes pushing the lead to as many as thirty late in the third quarter and into the final frame.
 
Oertner led Wilkes with nine points and a season-high eight rebounds and five steals. McFadden followed with six points on two treys while Gianna Roberts (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke) and Ashley Haywood (Stuyvesant, NY/Virginia Episcopal) each contributed five points in the defeat.
 
Wilkes shot just 24.6 percent (15-61) from the field and 19.0 percent (4-21) from behind the arc throughout. FDU-Florham caused 28 Wilkes turnovers converting the miscues into 26 points.
 
Alyssa McDonough led three FDU-Florham players in double figures finishing with a game-high 20 points and 14 boards.
 
Wilkes continues MAC Freedom play Saturday hosting Manhattanville College at 1:00 p.m. at the Marts Center. Wilkes will honor its 24^th class of Athletics Hall of Fame Inductees during halftime of the men's game.