Junior Christine Marks dominated the early stages of the game and the Cougars led the entire way as the Misericordia University women's basketball team defeated Manhattanville 82-67, Saturday in the Anderson Center.

Marks finished with 30 points on 10-of-13 shooting, and added a game-high 10 rebounds. Jesse Robinson (19 points) and Tyann McDaniel (16 points) also contributed on the offensive end for Misericordia.

Sophomore Hannah Seely had 11 points, four assists and six rebounds, and classmate Katie Drayton added eight boards.

The deficit might have been much higher, but the hosts only made one of 16 attempts from behind the three-point line (6.25%).

The Cougars went with over-the-top passes to Marks on four of their first five possessions, and the Valiants were unable to stop the early scoring barrage. First Drayton found Marks for the opening points of the game, before Marks finished off a pass from Robinson for a 4-0 lead.

After a pair of Robinson free throws, MU went to Marks a third time for an 8-0 lead. The junior center picked up a loose ball on the next possession and scored, and then finished off a play on the following possession, putting her in double figures and putting Misericordia up 12-0.

The Valiants finally got on the board five minutes into the action, but at the other end Marks out-muscled her defender on the post for yet another hoop, giving her 12 points in the first 5:02 and play and giving MU a quick 14-2 lead.

The Cougars held their opponents without a field goal for a stretch of 7:23, but the Valiants went on a little 7-2 run midway through the half to pull within 10. Robinson answered with a three-point play that stretched the Misericordia lead to 29-16.

With 0:39 remaining in the opening period and Manhattanville pressing, Seely released Tyann McDaniel with a nice cross-court pass. McDaniel was fouled and made one free throw, putting MU up by 15. The Valiants rallied with two hoops in the closing seconds, including one to beat the buzzer, and Misericordia entered the break holding a 36-25 advantage.

Manhattanville cut its deficit to seven points with 5:50 remaining in the contest. Marks answered again for Misericordia off an assist from Seely, and Robinson stole the ensuing inbounds pass, leading to a McDaniel three-pointer that just barely beat the shot clock buzzer.

The Valiants wouldn't get within single digits for the rest of the contest. Point guard Carey Hickey did come up with a ridiculous flip shot off the highest part of the backboard to make the score 62-52, but Misericordia finished chances late in the game to pull away.

Hickey finished with team-highs for both points (13) and assists (seven). Taylor Wilson (11 points) and Beranda Felder (10 points) were also in double-figures for Manhattanville.

The Cougars improve to 8-6, 4-1 with the victory and move into sole possession of second place in the Freedom Conference. MU will have an opportunity to take over first place when it hosts league-leading King's, Wednesday at 6 PM. First, Misericordia will host Penn State Wilkes-Barre on Monday.

Game Highlights: