DALLAS, PA – The fifth seeded Wilkes University women's basketball team 51-43 to fourth seeded Misericordia University in a Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) Quarterfinal Wednesday night at the Anderson Sports-Health Center.

Wilkes finished the season with an 8-15 overall record while Misericordia advances to the MAC Freedom Semifinals with a 16-10 overall record. The Colonels made their first conference postseason appearance in 25 years this season by finishing fifth of nine teams in the league with a 7-9 MAC Freedom record. It was just the fifth time in the 62-year history of the program that the team made the conference postseason tournament.

Both teams struggled to figure out the other's defense early in the game as it took over five minutes before the Cougars scored the first points on a three-pointer. Julia Marino (Turnersville, NJ/Washington Township) put the Colonels on the board with two free throws with 1:39 left in the first quarter as Misericordia led 9-2 after the first 10 minutes.

Jordyn Jennings (York, PA/Northeastern) hit the Colonels first field goal 35 seconds into the second quarter and made the ensuing free throw for the three-point play to make the score 11-5. Jennings and Baylee Guedes (Thompson, PA/Palmerton) then made layups to make the score 13-9. Katelyn Kinczel (Highland Heights, OH/Mayfield) would connect on a jumper and a three later in the quarter but Misericordia led 22-14 at halftime.

Brianna Horton (Verona, NJ/Verona) made a jumper midway through the third quarter as Wilkes pulled within six at 28-22. The Cougars scored the next five points before Kinczel finished the scoring in the quarter with 1:56 on the clock as the home team led 33-24 heading into the fourth.

The Cougars built their lead to 12 points four times in the fourth and for the final time with 4:44 remaining. Wilkes slowly chipped into the lead with baskets by Marino, Jennings, and Erin Shober (Reading, PA/Wilson) as the score stood at 47-41 with 1:21 left. Misericordia sealed the game by going 4-for-4 from the foul line down the stretch to win 51-43.

Jennings led Wilkes as she was one shy of her career high in points with 13 on the night. The first year also led Wilkes with seven rebounds. Kinczel had 10 points and Marino added seven points, six rebounds, six assists, and four steals.

Alyssa Bondi had a game-high 14 points to lead Misericordia. Gianna Delfino added 11 points and Melina Santacroce had a game-high 13 rebounds.

Misericordia shot 43.5 percent from the floor while Wilkes was at 32.1 percent. The Cougars held a slight lead in rebounding at 35-33.