The Misericordia University women's basketball team will host DeSales University in the MAC Freedom semifinals, Wednesday at 7:00 in the Anderson Center.

The winner will play the winner of FDU-Florham/Eastern in Saturday's MAC Freedom Championship game.  Admission is $6 adults, $4 senior citizens and $2 students. Children under six are free

Misericordia finished the regular season 18-7 (11-3) while DeSales was 19-6 (11-3) with Misericordia clinching the second seed with their overtime victory at DeSales a week ago.

The Cougars return to the MAC Freedom Championships after a four year hiatus, while DeSales has been mainstay, appearing every year since the 2004-05 season.

Misericordia is led by senior forward Justine Seely. She is fifth in the conference in scoring (15.4 per game), first in rebounds (11.8 per game) and third in blocks (3.0 per game). Rachel Carmody is second on the team in scoring (12.2 per game) and is seventh in the conference in rebounding (8.1 per game).  Japriya Carroll is third on the team in scoring (8.6 per game) and is sixth in the conference in made three's (1.4 per game). Leanne Forsyth is seventh in assists (2.6 per game) while Carroll is ninth (2.4 per game).

DeSales is led by senior center Morgan McCollian is sixth in both scoring (15.2 points per game) and rebounds (8.5 per game). She is also second in the conference in field goal percentage at 54.7% and fourth in blocked shots (1.8 per game). Leandra Sterner is their second scoring option (12.2 per game). Morgan Birmelin is second in the conference in assists (4.2 per game) while her backcourt partner, Nikki Callahan, is third (4.0 per game). Callahan leads the conference in assist to turnover ratio, and Birmelin is second. Birmelin and Callahan are active on defense as well, with Birmelin ranking fifth in the conference in steals (2.3 per game) while Callahan ranks ninth (2.1 per game).

The Cougars are third in scoring offense at 66.2 points per game while the Bulldogs are second in the conference at 68.8 points per game.
Misericordia was atop the conference in field goal defense, holding teams to 33.1% shooting. DeSales was third at 34.4%. Misericordia led the conference in all rebounding statistics while DeSales was atop the conference in turnover margin, assist to turnover ratio and steals per game.

The first meeting occurred on January 21 at the Anderson Center. DeSales held Misericordia to a four point third quarter to take a double-digit lead into the fourth. But Misericordia held DeSales to three points in the forth to close the gap, but the rally came up short as DeSales escaped with a 44-41 victory.

The second game in Center Valley was another defensive battle. This time the teams remained tied at 43 after four quarters before Misericordia pulled away for a 59-52 victory in overtime.

The last time these two teams met in the playoffs was another #2 vs. #3 matchup in the Anderson Center.  Current Misericordia assistant coach Christine Marks scored 18 points and grabbed 16 rebounds to lead the Cougars to a 62-46 victory over Bulldogs in 2012.