Bethlehem, PA, (November 21, 2006) – The DeSales University women’s basketball team made several late rallies in the second half but were never able to take the lead as Moravian College held on to take the local battle, 79-70, in non-conference action on Tuesday evening in Johnston Hall.

 

        The Bulldogs (2-1 overall) never led in the game falling behind early before tying it mid-way thru the first half and getting within one point once and two points several times late in the second half, but were never able to take lead as the Greyhounds (2-1 overall) held on for the non-conference win.

 

        Moravian jumped out early taking an eight point lead, 14-6, with 14:09 to play before DSU went on a 10-2 run to tie the game at 16 with 11:43 left in the opening half.  A pair of freshmen Kaila Wiand (Royersford, PA/Spring-Ford) with five points and Caitlin Miller (Fogelsville, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) three points sparked the game-tying run.

 

        The game went back and forth the rest of the half with the game being tied twice more before Moravian settled for a three-point cushion, 39-36, entering the locker rooms.  Both teams were hurt with turnovers as each committed 15 in the first half, while MC held a 20-12 edge on the boards helping it to the three-point difference.

 

        In the second half, the Greyhounds again jumped out early opening up a nine-point lead several times with the last coming at 59-50 on a three-pointer from Amanda Brown.  DSU answered the trey with a 10-2 run capped by a three-pointer from sophomore LeighAnn Burke (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) cutting the lead to one point at 61-60 with 7:06 to go.

 

        The game went back and forth over the next four minutes with Moravian leading 71-69 with 3:06 to play.  Senior Kelly Applegate canned two free throws to make it 73-69 and after a three-point miss on the other end La’Toya Blake found daylight on the right side and dribbled past three DSU defenders for a lay-up to make it 75-69 with 1:58 left.

 

        Another missed jumper by DSU was followed by a Moravian turnover and Miller converted 1-of-2 free throws to cut the lead to five, but Kirsty Stearns hit a jumper on the other end making it 77-70 with 45 seconds left and DSU failed to convert on the other end as Moravian took home the win.

 

        Senior Kirby Lutz (Easton, PA/Pen Argyl) led the Bulldogs with a game-high 16 points, 14 of which came in the second half.  Miller added 12 off the bench and Wiand finished with 10 tallies, all in the first half.  Miller also grabbed a team-high eight boards.  Burke had 10 points and sophomore Kim Rarick (Ringtown, PA/North Schuylkill) and junior Amanda Kuperavage (Port Carbon, PA/Nativity BVM) each had eight points in the loss.

 

        Applegate once again torched the Bulldogs for 26 points and 14 rebounds.  She hit 12-of-15 from the free throw line and was 7-of-11 from the field.  Freshman Jessica Foran scored 14 points, while Brown and Katie Rizman each had 10 points off the bench.