The Misericordia University women's basketball team jumped out to a big lead and held off a fourth quarter charge to beat Delaware Valley, 59-48, Saturday afternoon in the Anderson Center.
 
Justine Seely had 15 points and nine rebounds and Shannon Croasdale added 13 points and eight rebounds to lead the Cougars.
 
Japriya Carroll added nine points, eight rebounds and eight assists as the Cougars improved to 9-5 overall and 3-1 in the MAC Freedom.
 
Rachel Carmody's short jumper off an inbounds pass broke a 4-4 tie midway through the first quarter and the Cougars never trailed in the game.
 
Croasdale drilled a step-back three-pointer from the right corner and drilled another from the right wing to give MU an 18-10 lead early in the second quarter. 
 
Carroll found Seely on the block for a layup and Croasdale went coast-to-coast off a steal for a 20-10 lead.
 
Wampole grabbed an offensive rebound and ended a 12-0 run with a driving layup for a 24-10 lead with 5:27 left in the first half.
 
MU held the Aggies to just one field goal in the second quarter enroute to a 27-14 halftime lead.
 
The Cougars continued to pull away in the third quarter and two free throws by Nikki Wren gave Misericordia its biggest lead of the game, 44-21, with 2:07 left in the period.
 
Kristen Schmale added a turn-around jumper at the buzzer and the Cougars led 49-30 heading to the final stanza.
 
The Aggies rallied and eventually cut the MU lead to 53-46 with 1:55 to play, but Seely and Carroll both sank two free throws in the final minute to clinch the win.
 
Misericordia will travel to King's, Wednesday.