DALLAS, Pa.- Eastern University Women's Basketball scored a season-high 80 points and put five players in double-figures, but the host Misericordia University Cougars (7-4, 3-0 Freedom) held off a late Eastern charge to stay atop the Freedom standings with an 83-80 win. The Eagles, (6-8, 2-1 Freedom) battling foul trouble throughout the second half, allowed the Cougars to shoot 64 percent after the break.

Eastern rode balanced scoring to a 40-32 halftime lead. Meghan Nowak had 10 of her team-best 18 points before the intermission, and Reilly Gavitt scored eight points. A big part of the Eastern success came as a result of their early dominance on the boards. Four different Eastern players had multiple offensive rebounds in the opening frame. 

The Cougars made half their shots in the first half, but Eastern team only surrendered three offensive rebounds.

The Eagles held their advantage until Gina DiDomenico picked up her fourth foul on with 12 and a half minutes to play. Misericordia's Tyann McDaniel scored twenty of her game high 28 points after DiDomenico picked up that foul.

Misericordia grabbed the lead for good on two McDaniel free throws and stretched their edge to nine with five minutes to play. The lead remained at nine with three minutes to play. Forced to extend their defense, the Eagles scored eight straight points over the next 77 seconds to close the gap to 77-76. 

The two teams traded points, and the Eagles had a 3-point chance to tie with five seconds to play. Kelsie Patton scored 17 and Grossi added 12 to give the Eagles 29 from their bench. Grossi also grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds. Gavitt finished with 10 and Kaitlyn Dougherty added 11. The Eagles made 18-of-21 foul shots.

Misericordia's Hannah Seely made 8-of-11 shots to finish with 21.

Eastern returns to action at home this Saturday with an important Freedom Conference contest against King's College.