New York, NY (January 7, 2007) – Sophomore LeighAnn Burke (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) and senior Kirby Lutz (Easton, PA/Pen Argyl) combined for 42 points to lead the DeSales University women’s basketball team to its fourth straight win, 76-74, over Baruch College (NY) in non-conference action on Sunday afternoon.

 

        The win improves the Bulldogs to 9-3 overall, while the Bearcats fall to 8-6 on the season.  Lutz totaled 19 points and 13 rebounds to record her second straight double-double and her fourth of the season.  She now needs just 19 points to become the 16^th player in women’s basketball history to score 1,000 career points.  Burke finished with a game-high 23 points, 17 of which came during the second half.

 

        Trailing 12-7 in the early going DSU took control with a 22-6 run to lead 29-18.  Lutz led the spurt with six points, sophomore Kim Rarick (Ringtown, PA/North Schuylkill) totaled five points and Burke and freshman Caitlin Miller (Fogelsville, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) each had four tallies during the run.  The lead peaked at 13 in the first half before the Bulldogs settled for a 38-28 halftime lead.

 

        In the second half, DSU held a five to eight point edge the entire way until the final moments when Baruch made one last run.  Up seven with 1:21 to play on a three-pointer from Burke, DSU converted just 2-of-6 free throw attempts down the stretch giving the Bearcats one last chance to tie the game with four ticks left but Chiresse Paradise’s last second attempt was off the mark and the Bulldogs escaped with the non-conference win.

 

        In addition to Burke and Lutz, Rarick totaled double digits with 12 points on 4-of-8 shooting.  Miller came off the bench to score five points and grab five rebounds and junior Amanda Kuperavage (Port Carbon, PA/Nativity BVM) finished with six points, six rebounds and four assists.

 

        Paradise and Racquel Reid each had 17 points and Dominique McClendon had 15 points in the loss for Baruch.