DALLAS, PA – Host Misericordia University broke open a one-point game at the half outscoring Wilkes University 34-11 over the final 20 minutes on way to a 60-36 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom victory Wednesday night at the Anderson Center.
 
With the loss Wilkes slipped to 7-15 overall and 3-8 in league games. Misericordia continued their playoff push improving to 19-3 overall and 8-3 in conference contests.
 
Wilkes kept things close throughout the first half taking care of the basketball and limiting the Cougars chances on the offensive end. Back-to-back jumpers from Ashley Caster (York, PA/Spring Grove) tied the game at eight with 4:48 left in the first quarter. Misericordia used a 7-0 run to take a 15-8 advantage late in the stanza, but scores from Gab Giordano (Moscow, PA/Holy Cross) and Maddie Kelley (Dallas, PA/Dallas) cut the deficit to three at 15-12 at the end of the first.
 
The Colonels started the second quarter strong as Caster opened with a three-point play and Kelley scored in transition to give Wilkes a 17-15 lead with 8:23 left in the half. The teams traded baskets over the next four minutes before Gabby Smicherko (Edwardsville, PA/Wyoming Valley West) scored in the paint tying the game at 24 with 3:21 on the second quarter clock. After Misericordia scored in transition, Giordano added one of two free throws as Wilkes trailed 26-25 at the break.
 
Misericordia used a big second half outscoring the Colonels 19-7 in the third quarter and 15-4 over the fourth quarter to seal the conference home win. The Cougars used an 11-2 run to close out the third and then scored the first 11 points of the fourth quarter using strong pressure defense that led to Wilkes shooting just 18.1 percent over the final twenty minutes.
 
Caster topped all Wilkes scorers with 13 points and six rebounds. Giordano followed with seven points, 12 rebounds and five assists.
 
Japriya Carroll led 10 Misericordia players who reached the scoring column with 12 points and four rebounds including two three-pointers.
 
Wilkes returns to the Marts Center Saturday for its regular season home finale welcoming cross-town rival King's College. The Colonels will honor its two senior players, Caster and Giordano, prior to the 1:00 p.m. tip-off.