Carlisle, PA, (March 1, 2006) – The #5 seed DeSales University women’s basketball team had its season come to an end on Wednesday evening falling to the #4 seed, Dickinson College, 68-48 in the opening round of the ECAC South Region Tournament.

 

        The loss snaps an eight-game winning streak for the Bulldogs (16-12 overall) in ECAC Tournament play as they entered the tournament having won the championship in each of its last three appearances.  Dickinson (19-7 overall) advances to the semifinals as they will take on the #1 seed, Johns Hopkins University, on Friday.  The final four will be hosted by the #2 seed, University of Pitt.-Greensburg.

 

        The Red Devils jumped out early and never really looked back in defeating the Bulldogs.  DC opened up an 11-2 lead and led by as many as 19 points in the first half before taking a 38-21 lead into the locker rooms.  DSU was within 12 points, 29-17, with 3:36 left, but Dickinson used a 9-4 run over the last three minutes to take the 17-point halftime lead.

 

        DSU never got any closer than 14 points in the second half as the Red Devils lead peaked at 24 points, 68-44, before the final margin was posted.

 

        The Bulldogs were again dominated on the glass, being out-rebounded 44-29 and giving up 20 second chance points to the Red Devils.  DSU also turned the ball over 19 times and had just three assists.  Dickinson shot 41.9 percent from the field and committed just 12 turnovers.

 

        Junior Kirby Lutz (Easton, PA/Pen Argyl) led DSU with a team-high 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting.  Freshmen Erica Sovak (Tuxedo, NY/George F. Baker) had 12 points and Kim Rarick (Ringtown, PA/North Schuylkill) added 10 points as the only other players in double figures.