In the most important game of the season for the Misericordia women's basketball team, the Cougars came out on top, defeating the Manhattanville Valiants, 68-61, at Kennedy Gymnasium in Purchase, NY, Monday evening.

The Cougars are now 7-3 in conference play, moving ahead of Manhattanville in the standings for sole possession of third place with just four games remaining.

Brenna Karnish led the way with 15 points and Japriya Carroll added 13. Rachel Carmody had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. Erica Haefele also reached double figures with a career-high 10 points.

After Paige Wampole hit the first basket of the game, the Cougars went cold allowing the Valiants to go on a 13-2 run, with the only bucket coming on a Jaclyn Hajec floater in the lane. Hajec then hit a three from the top of the key to cut the deficit to six at 13-7 with 2:52 remaining in the first quarter.

Misericordia got the deficit down to four entering the second period on a transition layup by Karnish on a beautiful give-and-go with Hajec.

The Cougar defense was strong in the second quarter as they held the Valiants without a field goal for a seven-minute stretch, but in the last 1:17 of the period, Manhattanville went on a 6-0 run to take a 26-17 lead into the break.

Misericordia started the second half on a 7-0 run to get to within two. After a layup by the Valiants, Carmody hit a three to pull within one and then a layup on the next possession to give the Cougars their first lead since 2-0 early in the game.

The Valiants responded by going on a 13-5 run to build their lead up to eight. Misericordia kept fighting back, cutting the deficit to three at 46-43 on a layup by Karnish entering the fourth quarter.

Down 50-45, the Cougars went on 6-0 run, taking the lead on a Carroll three-pointer from the left wing with 5:28 remaining.

After trading points for a couple of minutes, Misericordia went on a 7-0 run, getting four points from Karnish and a couple of free throws from Carroll and Carmody. The Valiants got back to within two but clutch free throws from Carroll and Zamolyi iced the game for the Cougars.

Misericordia is back in action Wednesday when they travel to King's to play the Monarchs at 6:00.