Center Valley, PA (January 11, 2006) – Freshman Erica Sovak (Tuxedo, NY/George F. Baker) and sophomore Amanda Kuperavage (Port Carbon, PA/Nativity BVM) combined for 44 points and 17 rebounds to lead the DeSales University women’s basketball team past FDU-Florham, 81-79, in overtime and in Freedom Conference action on Wednesday night in Billera Hall.

 

        The Bulldogs (7-5, 2-1 Freedom) overcame a horrific first-half and a 16-point halftime deficit to secure its second Freedom Conference victory of the season.  The loss ends the Devils six-game winning streak and drops them to 9-3 overall and 1-2 in the Freedom.

 

        Foul trouble in the first half almost doomed DeSales as two key players picked up two and three fouls in the opening half forcing them to sit for much of the opening half.  On the other end, FDU canned 50 percent of its shot attempts and 60 percent (6-for-10) of its three-pointers to take a 39-23 lead into the locker room.

 

        With DeSales leading 7-3, the Devils went on a 19-5 run to take a 22-12 lead and finished the half with a 13-4 run building its largest lead of the game, 18-points, with 41 seconds left in the half.  During the middle stages of the half, DSU missed 18 straight shots before sophomore Jenna Stampf (Nazareth, PA/Notre Dame) ended the drought with a lay-up at the 2:42 mark of the half.

 

        The Devils were led by freshman Emily Cerankowski with 14 first-half points on 4-of-5 shooting including three treys.  DSU finished just 7-for-29 (24.1%) from the field and were being out-rebounded, 22-15.  Sovak and Kuperavage each tallied eight points over the first twenty minutes.

 

        The second-half was a much different story as Sovak scored 19 of her 27 points and DSU shot 16-for-32 (50.0%) from the field to lead its comeback.  With the lead still at 16, 42-26, at the 17:41 mark, DSU used a quick 9-2 run to get within single digits at 44-35.  Kuperavage started the spurt with a lay-up and also added a trey.

 

        The lead was eight at the 6:59 mark when Sovak caught fire and led the final comeback.  After two free throws from freshman Kim Rarick (Ringtown, PA/North Schuylkill) made it 60-54, Sovak hit her first of two straight triples that made it a 62-60 game with 5:17 to go.  After a couple of missed opportunities for both teams, Kuperavage converted a lay-up to give DSU its first tie since early in the first half at the 3:54 mark.

 

        A trey by Katherine Daly quickly broke the tie but junior Kirby Lutz (Easton, PA/Pen Argyl) answered with a three of her own and we were tied once again at 65.  A free throw by Ashley Flaherty pushed the Devil lead to one but Sovak was fouled on the other end and hit both free throws and Rarick canned a jumper to give DSU a 69-66 advantage with 1:47 to go.

 

        A lay-in by Cara Jennings was answered by two charity tosses from Rarick but Daly hit another three-pointer with 21 seconds left to tie it at 71 and DSU missed a jumper on the other end forcing overtime.

 

        Freshman LeighAnn Burke (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) got DSU on the scoreboard first in OT with a triple and Sovak hit two more free throws at the 3:23 mark to give DSU a 76-71 lead.  After two scores from FDU and each team trading foul shots, Rarick went to the line with DSU leading by one and 32 seconds left on the clock.  She made 1-of-2 from the line and Cerankowski hit a jumper on the other end to forge another tie at 79 with 21 ticks left.

 

        Burke came out a timeout with 13 seconds left and drove from the right side where her pull up jumper hit the back iron.  Kuperavage grabbed the offensive board, missed the put-back, but Burke, who was in position under the basket, snagged the errant shot and hit a shot as the buzzer sounded giving DSU the 81-79 hard fought come back win.

 

        DSU finished the game shooting just 37.5 percent from the field as compared to 47.5 percent shooting by the Devils.  DSU rebounded from its first-half effort on the boards to win the rebounding battle, 44-39, and they also forced FDU into 20 turnovers for the game.

 

        Sovak finished with a season-high 27 points to go along with six rebounds and four assists.  Kuperavage registered her first double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds and Lutz totaled 11 points and six rebounds.  Burke added nine points, five in overtime, and also had five assists and Stampf came off the bench to score six points and grab nine rebounds.

 

        FDU was led by Cerankowski who tallied a team-high 18 points, 14 in the opening half.  Danielle Yasko tallied 13 points, Jessie Chalmers equaled 12 points and Daly came off the bench to score 10 points for the Devils.