Scranton, PA (January 20, 2007) – The DeSales University women’s basketball team used a 17-6 run over the final 4:06 and had two shots to win the game in the last few seconds but both attempts fell short as the Bulldogs ran out of time in its upset bid of #3 The University of Scranton, 69-68, in Freedom Conference action on Saturday afternoon in the Long Center.

 

        The Bulldogs (13-4, 5-1 Freedom), forced to play the final 37 minutes of the game without its leading scorer and rebounder senior Kirby Lutz (Easton, PA/Pen Argyl) with a facial injury, were up to the challenge and nearly handed the third ranked Lady Royals its first loss at home over the last 56 games.

 

        Trailing by one point and in possession of the ball with 15.8 seconds on the clock DSU had a chance to win the game.  Sophomore LeighAnn Burke (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) received the ball on the left wing but had it knocked away and was trapped in the corner.  She was able to find freshman Kaila Wiand (Royersford, PA/Spring-Ford) on the baseline and Wiand attempted a scoop shot underneath a defender’s arm that fell just short.

 

        Junior Jenna Stampf (Nazareth, PA/Notre Dame) grabbed the offensive rebound and immediately went up for a left-handed put back in front of the rim as two Lady Royal defenders contested the shot but the ball fell short and the rebound was knocked around into a Scranton (15-1, 6-0 Freedom) player’s arm as time expired.

 

        Trailing 63-51 junior Amanda Kuperavage (Port Carbon, PA/Nativity BVM) started the rally with a lay-up at the 3:37 mark.  After a Scranton timeout, sophomore Lyndsey Sykes (Avalon, NJ/Middle Township) stole the ensuing inbounds pass and found Burke for a short jumper making it 63-55.

 

        The Lady Royals again had trouble inbounding the ball and were forced to burn its final timeout of the game to avoid a five-second violation.  UofS got the ball inbounds following the timeout but Kuperavage made a steal in the backcourt and also found Burke who knocked down a lay-up plus one freebie for a three-point play making the score 63-58 with 3:09 to go.

 

        Two free throws from senior Taryn Mellody on the other end pushed the advantage back to seven but Wiand answered immediately with a long three-pointer to cut the lead to four points.  Mellody and Wiand exchanged buckets on the next two possessions and the Bulldogs were called for a foul on Scranton’s next possession.

 

        Freshman Ryan Mooney missed the front end of a one-and-one and freshman Caitlin Miller (Fogelsville, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) was fouled after grabbing an offensive rebound.  Miller canned both freebies and the DSU full court pressure again paid dividends as Burke picked off the inbounds pass and the Bulldogs had a chance to tie down 67-65.

 

        After working the ball around the basket, Burke broke free off the dribble for a short jumper but the ball rimmed out and DeSales fouled Mellody on the defensive rebound with 59 seconds left.  Mellody knocked down both charity tosses to put Scranton back up four.

 

        Refusing to quit Burke came down the other end and touched nothing but cotton on a long three-pointer from the top of the key making it a 69-68 game.  With Mellody on the bench and both teams out of timeouts DSU decided to play tough defense and not foul, forcing a missed jumper from Casey Thran with Miller grabbing the defensive board setting up the final 15 seconds.

 

        Scranton had two separate eight point leads in the opening half before a 13-2 Bulldog run gave the visitor’s a 28-25 lead with 5:28 to play in the opening half.  The game was back and forth just before halftime as senior Allison Matt converted a 12-foor jumper with two seconds left to give the hosts a 36-32 lead into the locker rooms.

 

        The entire Bulldog lineup was terrific including Burke who tossed in a game-high 24 points and grabbed seven rebounds.  Wiand came off the bench in relief of Lutz to play a season-high 34 minutes and score a season-high 13 points and dish out seven assists in an inspiring effort and Kuperavage rounded out the double figure scorers with 11 tallies on 5-of-7 shooting.

 

        Mellody led the Lady Royals with 19 points on 7-of-15 shooting and Michelle Fabio gave Scranton a lift off the bench with 13 points.