Center Valley, PA (January 23, 2006) – The DeSales University women’s basketball team lost for the first time in its history to Gwynedd-Mercy College, 79-60, as the Griffins busted open a close game mid-way thru the second half in non-conference action on Monday evening in Billera Hall.

 

        The loss drops DSU to 9-8 overall while the win improves the Griffins to 13-3 overall.  GMC shot a blistering 56.7 percent from the field in the second half and out-rebounded DSU, 43-24, for the game.  Both teams committed a host of turnovers with Gwynedd-Mercy tallying 25 miscues and DeSales losing the ball 22 times.  The Griffins also shot 47.1 percent (8-for-17) from three-point land compared to 20.0 percent (2-for-10) for the Bulldogs.

 

        A back and forth first half was ended in grand fashion for GMC as Lauren Healy stole a pass at mid-court and raced down the floor to convert a lay-up with just 1 second left on the clock to give the Griffins a 30-28 lead.  There were six ties and seven lead changes in the opening half as both teams shot 40 percent and combined for 29 total turnovers.

 

        The second half started out just like the first with both teams battling back and forth for control of the game.  Leading 43-41 with 13:42 to go in the half, the Griffins took control with a 16-5 run over the next four minutes taking a 59-46 lead with 9:36 to go.  Junior Ashley Vandiver scored a team-high eight points during the run and freshman Kristy Camp finished the spurt with a trey from the right corner.

 

        A lay-up from freshman Kim Rarick (Ringtown, PA/North Schuylkill) cut the margin to 10 points at the 6:52 mark and the lead was 11 with 5:12 to go but a 7-0 run over the next 2 ½ minutes made it 71-53 before the final 19-point margin was posted.

 

        Freshman LeighAnn Burke (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) led the DSU attack with 13 points, Rarick totaled 12 points and sophomore Amanda Kuperavage (Port Carbon, PA/Nativity BVM) and Kirby Lutz (Easton, PA/Pen Argyl) added 10 in the losing effort.

 

        Vandiver led the Griffins with a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds off the bench.  Jackie Dougherty totaled 13 points; Lauren Healy added 11 tallies and Jillian Chiarantona had 10 points in the win.