The Misericordia women's basketball team used stellar second-half defense to fuel a 54-42 comeback victory over Marywood, Wednesday. MU improves to 2-4 while the Pacers drop to 1-5.

The Cougars allowed just 11 points in the second half, including just two points in the fourth quarter, allowing them to erase a nine-point deficit at halftime.

Paige Wampole score a team-high 10 points and grabbed 12 rebounds. Kalynn Sefcik added nine points and Jordan Barth pitched in four points, four assists, four steals, and two blocks.

The Cougars out-rebounded the Pacers 64-37, including 25-8 on the offensive glass.

After a cold first quarter where both teams shot a combined 9-38, the score was tied at 11. In the second quarter, Misericordia continued to struggle while Marywood started to heat up. The Pacers shot 47% from the field in the second quarter, including 4-9 from beyond the arc to take a 31-22 lead at the half.

Wampole led the way for the Cougars in the first half with six points and seven rebounds. As a team, Misericordia out-rebounded the Pacers 34-24 and 15-5 on the offensive end, but were unable to convert many second-chance opportunities.

In the second half, it was the Cougar defense that got them back in the game. While still not shooting that well, they held the Pacers to just nine points in the third quarter and cut the deficit to five entering the final period.

The Cougars started the fourth quarter on a 12-0 run. They took the lead on a Barth jumper with 5:21 to go. A three-pointer by Sefcik extended their lead to five and the Cougars never looked back from there. The Misericordia defense remained strong, not allowing a point in the quarter until 1:49 left.

Misericordia will host SUNY-Canton, Saturday at 3:00.