Box Score
Las Vegas, NV (December 22, 2006) – Sophomore LeighAnn Burke (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) and freshman Kaila Wiand (Royersford, PA/Spring-Ford) combined for 32 points and shot 5-for-11 from three-point land to lead the DeSales University women’s basketball team past Ohio Northern University, 63-55, to earn the Adidas Division III Desert Shootout Championship on Friday morning in Las Vegas, NV.
Trailing by one point after ONU (8-3 overall) converted a lay-up plus one freebie with 1:11 to go, the Bulldogs found themselves in a must score situation. After a missed lay-up, DSU had control of the ball underneath the basket but were unable to get the ball inbounds and were called for a five-second violation. On the ensuing inbounds pass sophomore Kim Rarick (Ringtown, PA/North Schuylkill) tied up the Polar Bear point guard and DSU regained possession with 47 seconds left.
Burke came around a screen at the top of the key, released the ball as it hit back iron, caromed off the front of the rim and dropped into the basket to give DSU a 57-55 lead with 32 seconds left. ONU brought the ball up the court looking to tie or take the lead with a trey but Rarick came up big once again with another steal and was immediately fouled. She knocked down both free throws and amazingly came up with her third consecutive steal on the inbounds pass where Wiand was fouled and also knocked down both charity tosses to ice the comeback win for the Bulldogs.
The Bulldogs (7-3 overall) were ice cold from the field in the first half as ONU sat back in a 3-2 zone and just allowed DSU open three-point looks but they were unable to knock them down. The Polar Bears finished the half on an 11-6 run to lead by eight points, 29-21, at the break. DSU shot just 2-for-10 from three-point land and uncharacteristically missed 6-of-7 foul shots in the opening half.
The second half started out similar to the first half as DSU missed four consecutive jumpers to start. Trailing by 10, Rarick got things started with a trey from the top of the key and Wiand did the rest. A jumper from just inches inside the three-point arc made it a five point game and two consecutive high arching three-balls touched nothing but net on the next two possessions to give DSU its first lead since early in the opening half, 37-35.
Over the next 11 minutes, there were nine ties and nine lead changes as each team struggled to gain control on the scoreboard until Burke’s trey and Rarick’s steals gave DSU the lead and eventually the win.
Burke finished with a game-high 22 points and also dished out six assists. Senior Kirby Lutz (Easton, PA/Pen Argyl) added 15 points and five steals and Rarick finished with seven points and five steals. Wiand came off the bench to tally 10 points, all of which came in the second half and sophomore Erica Sovak (Tuxedo, NY/George F. Baker) totaled nine points.
Danielle Andreasen scored a game-high 17 points and Leah Zimmerman added 16 points off the bench, 12 in the first half.
The Bulldogs return to action on Thursday, January 4th when they host Wesley College in a non-conference game beginning at 7:00 pm.
