Center Valley, PA, (December 1, 2004) – The DeSales University women’s basketball team, led by a stifling second-half defense, cruised past Drew University, 67-42, in the first Freedom Conference game of the season for both squads on Wednesday night in Billera Hall.

 

        DSU (3-1, 1-0 Freedom) held Drew (3-1, 0-1 Freedom) to 23.3 percent (10-of-43) shooting for the game and with just two field goals (2-for-19) in the entire second half to record the conference win.  The Bulldogs led by 14 at halftime and held the Rangers to just 14 second half points.  DSU shot 51.9 percent (14-of-27) in the first half and 42.1 percent for the game.

 

        Senior Alyssa Antolick (Bethlehem, PA/Bethlehem Catholic) led the way with a game-high 16 points on 6-of-14 shooting.  Fellow senior Jen Netwall (Allentown, PA/William Allen) added 10 points, five assists and seven steals, sophomore Jenn Osborne (Allentown, PA/Allentown Central Catholic) had nine points, six rebounds and three blocks and senior Holly Liebl (Kutztown, PA/Kutztown) added eight points and five rebounds in the win.

 

        DSU used an 18-4 run early in the first half to virtually put the game out of reach for the Rangers.  With the score tied at two Osborne hit two free throws and sophomore Kirby Lutz (Easton, PA/Pen Argyl) and Liebl hit consecutive lay-ups to ignite the run.  Netwall canned a three-pointer with 12:51 left in the first half and freshman Krista Gerlach (Oak Ridge, NJ/West Milford Township) ended the run with a lay-up at the 12:21 mark.

 

        In the second half, DSU held Drew without a field goal for the first 8:53 of the second stanza and with just two buckets for the entire final 20 minutes.  The lead swelled to as high as 27 points three times including a 67-40 lead with 29 ticks left.

 

        Drew saw two players reach double digits including Jennifer Weldon with 14 points and Melissa Kraft with 10, all in the first half.  DeSales forced 25 Ranger turnovers in the win.