The Misericordia University women's basketball team led early, but couldn't hold off a strong second half effort from DeSales University, as they fell, 74-61, at Bilera Hall on Saturday afternoon.
 
Justine Seely led the way for the Cougars with a season-high 17 points while adding seven rebounds. Shelby Brochetti and Lauren Smicherko followed with 13 points each while Shannon Croasdale finished with five points in the loss.
 
The Cougars and Bulldogs traded buckets to begin the game, but MU took over with 12 minutes left in the first half.
 
Nikki Baro helped spark the run with a big rebound that led to an easy bucket for Brochetti on the other end. Seely then posted back-to-back layups, Brochetti nailed a jumper off the dribble and Williams drove the lane to give MU a 19-11 lead with just over 10 minutes left in the opening half.
 
Morgan McCollian answered with a three-point play on the other end for DeSales to cut the Cougars lead to 19-14 with 8:56 left in the half.
 
Just 30 seconds later, Brochetti stole an inbounds pass and went the length of the floor, finishing with her left and Alexa Plitt buried a long two to extend the Cougars' lead to nine with 7:37 left in the opening half.
 
The Bulldogs fought back, as Jen Napolitano cut the MU lead to 27-24 with a jumper late in the half.
 
Brochetti answered with two free throws, but McCollian finished at the rim on the other end to make it a 29-26 game with 10 second left in the first.
 
MU captured the momentum yet again, as Croasdale hit Brochetti with a quick inbound pass at the top of the key. Brochetti then sent it right over to Jaclyn Hajec, who buried a three from right in front of the DeSales' bench as time expired to give MU a 32-26 lead at the half.
 
Smicherko opened the second half with a layup, but the Bulldogs answered with a long two on the other end.
 
Seely converted a three-point play to give the Cougars a nine-point lead with 17 minutes left.
 
The Bulldogs then took the momentum and eventually the lead at 47-44, following a three-point play from McCollium at the 11:40 mark.
 
Brochetti answered with a long three to tie the game at 47-47. However, DeSales took the lead for good, following an Emily Kiersnowski jumper with 10:40 left in regulation.
 
The Bulldogs controlled the momentum for the final 10 minutes of the game, outscoring the Cougars 48-29 in the second half to earn a 74-61 victory.
 
McCollium led the Bulldogs with 22 points and seven boards.
 
With the loss, MU falls to 0-7 and 0-2 in the Freedom Conference. DeSales improves to 5-2 and 2-0 in the conference.
 
MU travels to Alvernia on Monday, December 15^th.