A 21-4 run that carried from late in the first half through the early part of the second helped the Misericordia University women's basketball team to a 60-47 victory over FDU-Florham, Saturday afternoon in Madison, NJ.

It was a crucial away win for a Cougar team that had lost its last four conference games on the road. MU improves to 14-9 overall and 8-4 in the Freedom Conference. 

Misericordia now has a chance to clinch a playoff spot when they host rival King's on Tuesday. The Monarchs are currently in fifth place at 7-5 with two games to play. 

Manhattanville used a late run to escape Eastern's upset bid and remain in first place at 9-2, while DeSales is still in second place at 9-3. The Cougars are tied for third with Delaware Valley in a crowded race at the top of the standings. 

Sophomore Jesse Robinson was on fire for the visitors, shooting 6-of-7 from both the field and the free throw line to finish with a game-high 20 points. Christine Marks had 13 points and eight rebounds to complete an impressive three-game week in which she averaged 21 points and 12 rebounds per contest. 

Down by four late in the first half, a Caitlin Sweeney three-pointer and four straight points by Robinson in the final minute allowed Misericordia to enter halftime with a 19-17 lead. 

The Cougars continued to gain momentum right from the start of the second half. Vanessa Wright stripped her defender and converted a fast break lay-up before Robinson also stole the ball and fed Tyann McDaniel for a fast break hoop. 

The Devils answered with a three-point play but free throws by McDaniel and Courtney Sykes and a trey by Robinson put the Cougars up 31-20 with 15:30 to play. 

When Wright executed another steal-layup sequence, MU had its largest lead of the game up to that point, 33-20. 

The gap grew to as much as 18 when a Bernadette Guy basket put Misericordia up 56-38 with 4:06 remaining. 

FDU-Florham was up by as much as five in the first half. With seven minutes remaining in the opening period, a three-point play by Marks cut the Devil lead to two. 

Minutes later the Devils led by four before MU unleashed their dominating run, which included a stretch of 6:26 without an FDU hoop. 

Misericordia shot 46.5% from the floor while holding their opponents to just 34.0%. FDU-Florham did not convert a three-point shot, attempting just three all game.