Center Valley, PA (January 27, 2007) – The DeSales University women’s basketball team earned its second straight win on the strength of its defense on Saturday afternoon forcing 21 Wilkes University turnovers and holding the Colonels to just 32.7 percent shooting in a 70-41 in Freedom Conference action.

 

        Both teams struggled to find the scoring touch early in the first half as the scoreboard read Wilkes – 12, DeSales – 10 after 12 minutes of action.  The Colonels (6-13, 2-6 Freedom) continued to lead by one, 14-13, at the 7:32 mark when DSU (15-4, 7-1 Freedom) got on track offensively ending the half on an 18-8 run to lead by nine, 31-22.  During the half ending spurt, senior Kirby Lutz (Easton, PA/Pen Argyl) had a team-high nine points and sophomore LeighAnn Burke (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) totaled five points.

 

        The second half was all DeSales as they extended a nine-point lead into a 25-point cushion with a 16-0 run early in the period.  Sophomore Kim Rarick (Ringtown, PA/North Schuykill) had eight of her 10 points during the spurt and sophomore Jenna Stampf (Nazareth, PA/Notre Dame) had four points off the bench.

 

        The Bulldogs finished the game shooting 39.2 percent from the field after struggling from the field at the start.  DSU held a 45-38 edge on the glass and committed just eight turnovers to the Colonels 21.

 

        Lutz finished with a game-high 17 points and grabbed seven rebounds and Burke’s stat line read 15 points, four rebounds, five assists and six steals.  Rarick finished with 10 points and two steals and freshman Caitlin Miller (Fogelsville, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) came off the bench to score six points and grab six rebounds.

 

        Wilkes was led by junior guard Randi Corbo with a team-high 15 points and four assists.  The Colonels had nine blocked shots including four by Karyn Perestam off the bench.  Sophomore Kelly Patchell finished with seven points and nine rebounds in the loss.