The Misericordia University women's basketball team came close but couldn't overcome its early offensive struggles as the Cougars fell 53-51, Saturday at Eastern.

Junior Christine Marks totaled 14 points and 12 rebounds, and needs just three points to reach 1,000 for her career. Senior Courtney Sykes added nine points and six rebounds.

Sophomore Hannah Seely was 3-of-5 for seven points, while classmate Tyann McDaniel had a game-high five assists.

Down 50-41 with under a minute to play, Sykes scored to start the late comeback attempt. A Jesse Robinson steal led to a Seely lay-up, and Seely then finished off a put-back after McDaniel's steal to cut the lead to 50-47.

The Cougars couldn't get any closer however, until Seely's jumper just before the buzzer pulled MU to within two.

Misericordia dug itself a hole with a stretch of 10:57 without a field goal, during which Eastern went on a 29-5 run to break the game open.

Robinson's three-pointer with 9:11 remaining in the first half kept MU close at 17-13, but it was the last basket the Cougars would convert until after halftime. Misericordia trailed 29-15 at the half and was down 34-15 until Marks broke the slump with a basket early in the second period.

The Cougars trailed by 20 with 17:13 to go, but began to claw their way back into the game. Four straight points from Marks were followed by a pair of McDaniel threes that made it 39-29.

Kayla Sileo hit a three-pointer with 4:32 that cut Eastern's lead to 44-39 but the Eagles kept enough of a cushion to survive the final-minute rally.

MU had scored ten straight points early to go up 10-5, before the Cougars went ice cold.

Misericordia falls to 13-8, 7-3 with the loss. MU is tied for first place in the Freedom Conference with King's; DeSales could also join the group with a victory over Delaware Valley tomorrow. The Cougars face a massive home clash with DeSales, Wednesday at 6 PM.