Selinsgrove, PA (November 19, 2005) – The DeSales University women’s basketball team dropped its 2005-06 season opener, 69-61, to SUNY-Cortland in the opening round of the Susquehanna University Pepsi/Weis Markets Tip-Off tournament on Saturday evening.

 

        The Bulldogs (0-1 overall) fell victim to some poor shooting in the first half and were never able to fully recover in the second half.  DSU shot just 16.7 percent (7-for-42) in the opening half as Cortland (1-0 overall) opened up a 36-23 lead.

 

        Cortland led by only five, 24-19, at the 5:23 mark of the opening half, but DeSales finished the half converting just 1-for-14 from the field and Cortland took advantage with a 12-4 run to take the 13-point lead.

 

        In the second half, DeSales mounted several charges.  Three consecutive jumpers by sophomore Amanda Kuperavage (Port Carbon, PA/Nativity BVM) and freshman LeighAnn Burke (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) and Kim Rarick (Ringtown, PA/North Schuylkill) quickly cut the deficit to seven points with 17:07 remaining.

 

        The next seven and a half minutes were back and forth and Cortland continued to lead by seven before two consecutive lay-ups by Lyndsey Sykes (Avalon, NJ/Middle Township) made it a three-point game at 50-47 with 8:36 left.

 

        Cortland regained control and the lead hovered between four and seven points over the next six minutes when a Kuperavage jumper made it a seven-point game with 2:30 to go.  After a steal and missed jumper by the Bulldogs, Cortland converted a lay-up to push the lead up to nine points and DeSales fell short in its comeback bid.

 

        DeSales finished the game shooting 30.3 percent but took 28 more shots than its opponent (76-48).  The Bulldogs also forced 27 turnovers and committed just 14 of their own, but the poor shooting, particularly in the first-half, was too much to overcome.  In addition to the 30.3 percent total from the floor, DSU converted just 50.0 percent of its free throw attempts (11-for-22).

 

        Junior Kirby Lutz (Easton, PA/Pen Argyl) led the scoring attack for the Bulldogs with 18 points and eight rebounds.  Kuperavage totaled 10 points and a team-high nine boards and Burke added 13 tallies in her first career game.  Rarick and fellow freshman Erica Sovak (Tuxedo, NY/George F. Baker) each added seven points in the loss.

 

        SUNY-Cortland received 33 points and 15 rebounds from Maggie Byrne and Chrissy DeHay off the bench to lead its attack.  Megan Assmus added 12 points and Ali Canale totaled a game-high 10 rebounds in the win.