ST. DAVIDS, PA – Host Eastern University saw three players reach double figures to pace the Eagles to a 65-48 MAC Freedom victory over visiting Wilkes University Friday night.
 
With the defeat Wilkes dropped to 6-9 overall and remained winless at 0-4 in MAC Freedom games. Eastern improved to 8-7 overall and kept pace with the top of the league standing 3-1 in conference contests.
 
Eastern raced out to a 35-26 lead at the break thanks to a balanced scoring attack that saw three players reach double figures throughout. Minika Glenn put the Eagles ahead 10-3 early after a three-pointer at the 3:33 mark of the first quarter. Wilkes responded with a bucket from Gabby Smicherko (Edwardsville, PA/Wyoming Valley West) and two free throws from Maddie Kelley (Dallas, PA/Dallas) to cut the lead to 12-9 after one quarter of play.
 
Eastern continued to push the tempo offensively throughout the second quarter seeing its lead grow to as many as nine points twice, but a three-pointer by Macy Berryman (Stroudsburg, PA/Pocono Mountain East) brought the Colonels back to within four trailing 24-20 with just over four minutes left until the break. From there back-to-back scores from Eastern gave the hosts an 11-point advantage at the break.
 
The Eagles lead grew to its largest of the night when Naomi Harris made good on a transition layup giving Eastern a 52-37 advantage with 1:14 left in the third quarter. The lead continued to grow into the final frame as a bucket and two free throws from Glenn put the hosts ahead for good up 59-39 with 7:25 left in the contest. Brenna Babcock (Sweet Valley, PA/Northwest Area) and Brianna Horton (Verona, NJ/Verona) added two-point baskets late in the frame to cut the lead to 17 where the Eagles would settle for the home conference victory.
 
Kelley led all Wilkes scorers with 12 points and seven rebounds going 7-for-8 from the foul line. Berryman followed with 11 points on 3-for-6 shooting from long range.
 
Kay Wulah (16), Viki Kneis (15) and Glenn (12) paced the Eagles balanced scoring where seven players reached the scoring column in the win.
 
Wilkes remains idle until Wednesday when the Colonels welcome cross-town rival King's College to the Marts Center for a MAC Freedom matchup at 8:00 p.m.