The Misericordia University basketball teams have moved into the second half of their 2009-10 Freedom Conference schedules with both sides right in the middle of their respective playoff races.

Dom Del Prete's game-winning three-pointer on Saturday in the final seconds gave the MU men a 51-50 victory over Delaware Valley in what could eventually go down as the defining play of the regular season for the Cougars.

The win over the Aggies was immensely important in the Freedom Conference playoff race. Instead of falling to sixth place, Misericordia picked up an important head-to-head advantage over the Aggies and are now tied for fourth. With four home league games left the Cougars are in good shape if they can take care of business in the Anderson Center.

After a loss to Delaware Valley over the weekend, the MU women sit in third place in the Freedom standings, tied with DeSales but holding the head-to-head tie-breaker. King's and FDU-Florham lurk just one game behind.

With such hotly-contested races in progress, the scene is set for a pair of hard-fought games as local rival Wilkes visits Dallas on Wednesday night.

The MU men defeated Wilkes 74-64 on the road earlier this season. Sophomore Jeff Slanovec had a team-high 19 points, shooting 5-of-7 from behind the arc.

For the season, Slanovec leads the league in three-pointers made (50) and is fourth in three-point percentage (44.2). Del Prete has been dominant all-around, averaging 16.9 points (third in the conference), 5.8 rebounds (eighth) and 1.67 steals (fifth). Fellow senior Marcus Little leads the Freedom in assists (4.28).

Wilkes features junior guard Chris DeRojas (14.0 ppg, 3.32 apg), a Dallas native who reached 1000 career points on January 23. Senior Tom Kresge (18.3 ppg, 8.9 rbg) leads the Colonels in both scoring and rebounding.

The Cougar women defeated Wilkes 67-54 in their conference opener this season, thanks to a Christine Marks double-double (15 points, 13 boards) and 10 rebounds from junior Courtney Sykes.

Sophomores Marks (15.1 ppg, 9.3 rpg, 85.3 free throw percentage) and Jesse Robinson (14.4 ppg, 45.9 field goal percentage) have carried a significant part of Misericordia's offensive load this season. Freshman point guard Tyann McDaniel is the league's leading three-point shooter, sinking 43-of-94 (45.7%).

Efficient team shooting as been crucial to MU's success this season, with the Cougars ranking first in the Freedom Conference in free-throw and three-point percentage, while placing third in field goal percentage.

The Wilkes women have struggled this season, and sit at 1-7 in the Freedom standings. The Colonels do feature several dangerous players, including three averaging in double-figures: Megan Kazmerski (11.1 ppg), Lindsey Gosse (10.7) and Samantha Lynam (10.5). Guard Brittany Ely leads the team in steals and is second in assists.

Wilkes will have a familiar face on the bench in graduate assistant Lindsey Sykes, who was a senior at Misericordia last season.

The women's game tips off at 6 PM, with the men playing at 8 PM.