Junior Christine Marks set a new school single-game record with 25 rebounds as the Misericordia University women's basketball team jumped out to an 18-0 lead en route to a 78-46 victory over Wilkes, Wednesday in the Anderson Center.

Marks also finished with a career-high 30 points (on 11-of-15 shooting) and three blocks. Jesse Robinson had 16 points and 6 boards, while sophomore Tyann McDaniel shot 5-for-9 from behind the arc and finished with 15 points.

After recording her 24th board of the game with five minutes remaining, Marks grabbed the record with 4:13 to play, pulling down a defensive rebound and getting fouled. She was substituted after making both free throw attempts.

Three minutes into the game, senior Courtney Sykes had stripped a Colonel player at the top of the key and found Robinson for a fast break lay-in and an 8-0 lead.

McDaniel dropped a pair of three-pointers to stretch the run to 18-0 before Wilkes' Megan Kazmerski banked in a shot from Brittany Ely to finally get the visitors on the board, six and a half minutes in.

Marks converted a three-point play to restore the 18-point lead midway through the half. Wilkes cut the advantage to 25-12 on a Kazmerski three, but it was the closest they would get as McDaniels answered and then Marks canned a three from the corner to put MU up 34-17.

Hannah Seely drove hard to the hoop for a three-point play in the final minutes of the period, giving Misericordia a 37-17 lead. The Cougars would go into the break up 43-22.

Marks was 9-for-11 from the field in the first half, notching a staggering 20 points and 14 rebounds in the period.

Robinson, McDaniel and Kayla Sileo all hit second half treys in a span of just over two minutes and Misericordia led 54-26 with 13 minutes to play. The Cougars stepped up on the defensive end as well, with McDaniel and Sileo taking charges.

Senior Sam Lynam led the Lady Colonels with 19 points; Kazmerski added 10. Wilkes committed three fewer turnovers than Misericordia but only shot 27.5% from the field (MU shot 40.3%).

The Cougars improve to 3-3 overall and get their 2010-11 Freedom Conference campaign off to a winning start. MU will host Eastern on Saturday at 1 PM.

Game Highlights: