WILKES-BARRE – Visiting DeSales University led from start to finish as the Bulldogs cruised to a 90-42 MAC Freedom victory over Wilkes University Wednesday night at the Marts Center.
 
Wilkes fell to 2-5 overall and 0-1 in MAC Freedom games following the home defeat. DeSales evened its overall record at 3-3 and moved to 1-0 in league games after the road victory.
 
The visitors jumped out to a 24-9 lead after one quarter of play using its pressure defense to force Wilkes into 13 turnovers converting the miscues into 18 points on way to the 15 point advantage.
 
The DeSales lead continued to grow through the second frame as the Bulldogs shot over 57 percent from the floor including 4-of-5 from behind the arc taking a 45-23 advantage to the break.
 
The Bulldogs used its strongest quarter of the game in the third outscoring Wilkes 24-8 to push the advantage to 69-31 after 30 minutes of play.
 
Kendra Smith (Hughesville, PA/Hughesville) and Brianna Horton (Verona, NJ/Verona) topped Wilkes with seven points each. Alexa Jones (Honesdale, PA/Honesdale) added six points.
 
DeSales was led by Lindsey Welsh's game-high 18 points and eight rebounds. Averi Jordan followed with 16 points on 5-for-10 shooting including a pair of three-pointers. Amelia Saunders added with 13 points, three rebounds and three assists..
 
DeSales finished the game shooting 52.6 percent (30-57) from the floor canning seven three-pointers. Wilkes shot 31.9 percent (14-47) from the field converting six treys in the contest. The Bulldogs also held a decisive advantage on the glass outrebounding Wilkes 41-22 including 17 offensive rebounds.
 
Wilkes continues MAC Freedom play Saturday with a road matchup at FDU-Florham starting at 1:00 p.m. in Madison, N.J.