A year after each squad earned its first Freedom Conference playoff berth, the Misericordia University basketball teams will open their 2010-11 Freedom campaigns with a visit from local rival Wilkes, Wednesday.

The MU men are off to a 4-0 start behind the play of junior Ethan Eichhorst, last week's Freedom Player of the Week. Eichhorst is averaging 20.8 ppg and 7.8 rpg so far this season.

Senior Robbie Johnson has also been key, contributing 17.5 ppg and 6.0 rpg and winning tournament MVP honors as the Cougars emerged victorious in this year's McCarthy Tire Laurel Line championship.

The Colonels are 2-2 through four games this year. Dallas' Chris DeRojas is once again leading the Wilkes offense, averaging 17.8 ppg. Junior big man Kendall Hinze has 11.0 ppg and a team-high 7.3 rpg.

The Misericordia women have played a difficult early season schedule and currently sit at 2-3 after defeating Centenary on Monday. Senior Courtney Sykes had a team-high 17 points in that game.

It will be a reunion for the Sykes family as sister Lindsey Sykes, a former Misericordia student-athlete, will be on the bench as a graduate assistant for Wilkes.

The elder Sykes was 0-2 last season against her old team and her Lady Colonels (1-3) will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak when they visit the Anderson Center.

Wilkes' Sam Lynam is averaging 17.5 points in just 22.5 minutes per game. Guard Brittany Ely leads the team with 8.8 rpg.

The women tip-off at 6 PM while the men's contest is scheduled for 8 PM.