Manhattanville used a 25-4 run to blow open a tie game and clinch the top seed in the Freedom Conference playoffs, 63-50 over the Misericordia University women's basketball team on Saturday.

Senior Vanessa Wright, playing in her final home game, shot 4-of-4 in the first half and finished with a team-high 13 points to go with seven rebounds and three assists.

In her 100th appearance as a Cougar, Wright's three steals put her one shy of moving to seventh in school history.

Sophomore Jesse Robinson also had 13 points for MU, while classmate Christine Marks had eight points and 12 rebounds.

After going down early, the Cougars pulled even at 9-9 after Wright picked up a loose ball and drove through a crowd for a left-side lay-in.

The Valiants scored three straight hoops in the span of a minute, but Marks and Wright answered with three pointers to tie the score at 15 with 10:35 remaining in the half.

Wright executed another tough drive through the entire Manhattanville defense but it was the lone bright spot as the Cougars were out-scored 21-4 the rest of the period.

Misericordia's slump continued into the second half until three straight points by Wright stopped the bleeding. Soon after, Wright hustled for an offensive rebound, was fouled, and then found Robinson on the ensuing inbounds for two points that made the score 42-27 Valiants.

With 9:35 to play, Robinson made a basket and was fouled. She then chased down her missed free throw for a four-point play that kept the Cougars within 14 points.

It was the closest MU would get until the final minutes however, and now Misericordia faces a tough re-match at Manhattanville, Wednesday night in the Freedom Conference semifinals.

The Valiants were led by junior Simona Gordon (9-of-13, 18 points) and sophomore Courtney Tucker (7-of-10, 14 points). Point guard Carey Hickey had seven assists.