BETHLEHEM, PA – Host Moravian University used a big second quarter surge on way to a 55-47 Landmark Conference victory over the Wilkes University women's basketball team Wednesday night at Johnston Hall.
 
Wilkes dropped to 8-16 overall and 4-12 in Landmark games while Moravian improved to 8-16 overall and 7-10 in league contests.
 
The Colonels raced out to a 10-2 lead early in the first quarter as Taylor Simpson (Dunmore, PA/Lawrenceville School) knocked down a pair of threes and Erin Shober (Reading, PA/Wilson) and Brenna Babcock (Sweet Valley, PA/Northwest Area) each scored inside. Moravian fought back cutting the advantage to two before another Shober bucket and Babcock free throw closed out the scoring with Wilkes leading 13-8 after one.
 
Moravian then outscored Wilkes 20-7 over the second ten minutes of play taking a 28-20 lead to the break.
 
The Moravian leads grew to as many as 13 points midway through the third quarter before a jumper from Babcock and three-pointer from Emma Stout (Bangor, PA/Bangor) brought the Colonels to within five at 41-36 with 2:40 left in the frame. Shober closed out the quarter with another score inside as Wilkes trailed by just three heading into the final stanza.
 
Shober notched another layup in the paint to start the fourth to bring Wilkes to within one, 41-40. The teams traded baskets over the next four minutes before Shober tied the game at 47 using a three-point play to do the damage. From there four straight free throws by Moravian gave the hosts a slim lead as Wilkes missed on three straight possessions. The Colonels were forced to foul over the final thirty seconds and Moravian knocked down four more form the charity stripe to seal the home conference victory.
 
Shober scored a game-high 17 points shooting 7-for-15 from the field while adding seven rebounds. Simpson followed with 11 points including three treys while Babcock chipped in eight points and eight boards.
 
Brielle Guarente led Moravian with 14 points while Lizzie Lustig followed with 12 points and 10 rebounds.
 
Wilkes closes out its 2023-24 season Saturday when the Colonels host Goucher College at 4:00 p.m. on Senior Day at the Marts Center.