Box Score A late second-half rally fell short as the Misericordia University women's basketball team dropped a key Freedom Conference contest at Eastern, 73-61, Wednesday.

Hannah Seely had 19 points and eight rebounds for the Cougars who fell a game behind Eastern in race for the final playoff berth with three games remaining.

Lauren Smicherko added 16 points for MU.

The Cougars were held to just seven points over the first 11 minutes of the second half as the Eagles used a 21-7 run to take a 51-35 lead with 8:54 remaining.

Tyann McDaniel and Seely scored layups and Sam Baro added two free throws as Misericordia scored six straight points to get within 57-37 with 3:55 to play.

Seely scored six points in less than a minute as the Cougars got within six, 67-61, with less than a minute to go, but the Eagles scored the game's final six points.

The Cougars trailed 30-28 at halftime after both teams shot better than 40% from the floor over the first 20 minutes.

Caitlin Kessler, Hannah and Kayla Sileo all made layups as the Cougars opened the game on a 7-0 spurt.

Kristen Hansen added a three-pointer to make it 10-2, but the Eagles answered with a 10-0 run to take a 12-10 lead.

Tyann McDaniel drained a three-pointer to put the Cougars back in front and Smicherko and Sam Baro both added layups to keep them in front, 17-16.

Eastern responded with nine straight points for a 25-17 lead.

Smicherko's layup and two free throws by Seely got the Cougars within 26-23 and Kessler hit a three-pointer to tie it, 28-28, with 3:43 to go.

Two Eastern free throws were the only points the rest of half.

Misericordia, 10-12 (4-7 Freedom),  will host Delaware Valley, Saturday at 1:00.