WILKES-BARRE – After trailing by one early, visiting DeSales University used a 41-6 run to end the first half and never looked back posting a 75-35 victory over Wilkes University Wednesday night at the Marts Center.
 
Wilkes fell to 5-17 overall and 0-11 in league games following the home defeat. DeSales, sitting in second place in the MAC Freedom standings, improved to 17-5 overall and 9-2 in conference contests.
 
After DeSales opened a 6-0 lead, Wilkes responded with a 7-0 run including back-to-back three-pointers from Catey McFadden (Doylestown, PA/Archbishop Wood) and Emily Sofranko (Jim Thorpe, PA/Marian Catholic) to take its only lead of the game. From there, DeSales used the 41-6 run over the rest of the first quarter and through the second frame to take a 47-14 advantage to the break.
 
Wilkes tried to chip away at the lead throughout the third and fourth quarters, but DeSales held strong to the double-digit lead throughout shooting 42.4 percent (28-66) from the floor and outrebounding Wilkes 48-33 including 18 second chance points. DeSales also used its pressure defense to cause 27 Lady Colonel turnovers resulting in 33 points.
 
Gianna Roberts (Nanticoke, PA/Nanticoke) led Wilkes with six points, while Ashley Caster (York, PA/Spring Grove) added a team-high seven rebounds. Wilkes managed just nine made field goals shooting a season-low 18.4 percent from the field.
 
Morgan McCollian and Leandra Sterner topped four Bulldogs in double figures with 12 points each. McCollian added eight rebounds. Bridget Walsh chipped in 11 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks off the DeSales bench which outscored Wilkes' reserves 43-19.
 
The Lady Colonels return to the court Saturday when they travel to local rival Misericordia University for a MAC Freedom matchup in Dallas, Pa. at 1:00 p.m.