The Misericordia women's basketball team defeated Wilkes, 87-54, Saturday afternoon at the Marts Center in Wilkes-Barre. The Cougars improve to 15-8 overall and 8-4 in MAC Freedom action.

Five players scored in double figures for the Cougars, led by 11 points from Quintessa Zamolyi. Emma Hayes matched her career high with 10 points and Paige Wampole pulled down nine rebounds. Wampole and Hayes each had four steals.

Zamolyi got the Cougars on the board with a jumper from the top of the key, followed by a Japriya Carroll layup off a nice pass from Wampole. Three pointers by Carroll and Zamolyi gave the Cougars a 10-point lead at 16-6 with 5:32 remaining in the first. After the first 10 minutes, Misericordia led 24-16.

Wilkes started to make a comeback in the second quarter, scoring on their first three possessions to cut the lead to 26-24. Up 32-28 with 5:01 remaining in the half, Wampole hit a layup after grabbing an offensive rebound, starting a 9-0 run for the Cougars. Wilkes ended the half on a 5-0 run, but Misericordia still led 46-35 at the break.

Hayes came out hot in the second half, getting a steal and layup in transition, hitting a three from the wing and a jumper off an assist from Carroll in the first two minutes of the second half to extend the Cougar lead to 53-38.

The Cougars continued to pull away in the third, ending the quarter on a 21-5 spurt, getting six points each from Zamolyi and Wampole plus five points from Waleski to push their lead to 75-46 entering the fourth quarter.

Misericordia never let it get close again, holding Wilkes to just eight points in the fourth and getting contributions from Shea Matta, who hit a corner three, and Kristen Schmale, who made a layup through contact, to allow the Cougars to ease to victory.

Misericordia is back in action, Tuesday when they host DeSales at 6:00. The Cougars are currently tied with the Bulldogs for third place in the MAC Freedom along with Manhattanville, who Misericordia will see on Saturday to end the regular season.