The Misericordia University women's basketball team defeated Franklin & Marshall, 57-43, in the non-conference finale, Saturday afternoon on Doc Mould Court.

Lizzy Mitchell scored a game-high 20 points to lead the Cougars. Morgan Janeski had 13 points and Ava Cirigliano added eight points, six rebounds and two steals.

Misericordia opened the game with a three-point play by Mitchell.

After the teams traded baskets, the Cougars went on an 8-2 run.

Back-to-back 3-pointers by Morgan Janeski and Emily Romanowski, along with another Mitchell layup, gave MU a seven-point lead, 13-6, with just under two minutes to play in the opening quarter.

In a low-scoring second quarter, the Diplomats pulled within two points with two minutes remaining, but Janeski hit a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give Misericordia a five-point lead at halftime, 22-17.

The Cougars scored on their first three possessions of the third quarter. Caitlin Landgraf finished two straight layups followed by another from Mitchell to extend the lead to 28-17.

Franklin & Marshall responded to cut the margin to five, but a layup by Mitchell and three-point play by Janeski pushed the Cougars' advantage back into double figures, 35-25, with 1:02 to go in the third period.

After a pair of free throws by the Diplomats to open the fourth quarter, Cirigliano and Brenna Hunt hit back-to-back jumpers to restore a 12-point lead.

Franklin & Marshall cut the lead to seven with 3:41 to play, but Cirigliano scored two straight baskets to make it 47-36 with 2:46 to play.

Romanowski converted a three-point play and the Cougars made seven free throws in the final 1:14 to seal the win.

MU will open MAC Freedom play when they host Stevens, Wednesday.