Box Score BOX SCORE (Game 1)
BOX SCORE (Game 2)
Annville, PA, (November 13, 2007) – Four players reached double digits and junior Kim Rarick (Ringtown, PA/North Schuylkill) netted a career-high 20 points leading the DeSales University women's basketball team past Widener University, 81-59, in the opening game of the Starter's Pub Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday evening in Billera Hall.
The Bulldogs (1-0 overall) started fast opening up a 17-1 lead at the 14:34 mark as Rarick lead the charge with seven points. The DSU defense held the Pride without a field goal till the 12:48 mark when Alex Held scored to make the score 17-3. The lead grew to as many as 26 points in the first half and remained 26 entering the locker rooms as the DeSales defense held Widener to just 12 points and led 38-12. The Bulldogs forced 19 first-half turnovers and scored 21 points off those miscues while also holding the Pride (0-1 overall) to just 23.8 percent shooting.
In the second half Widener started strong cutting into the Bulldog lead with a 16-4 run, cutting the lead down to 14 at 44-30 with 14:33 left. DSU answered the spurt with an 8-0 run over the next two minutes and pretty much cruised the rest of the way leading by as many as 31 points before posting the final 22-point margin.
Rarick tallied her career-high on 10-of-10 shooting from the free throw line. Junior LeighAnn Burke (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) finished with 17 points, four assists and five steals and sophomore Caitlin Miller (Fogelsville, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) recorded her third career double-double with 16 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.
Junior Erica Sovak (Tuxedo, NY/George F. Baker) had 10 points off the bench and senior Amanda Kuperavage (Port Carbon, PA/Nativity BVM) had a solid all-around game with four points, five rebounds, three assists and five steals.
Widener was led by Megan Sipple with 16 points as the only player in double digits.
The Bulldogs will play William Paterson University, a 67-59 winner over Springfield College (MA) in the other game, in the championship on Sunday at 3:00 pm. Widener will take on Springfield in the consolation game at 1:00 pm. Live stats will be available for the championship game only on Sunday at the following link if you are unable to attend - http://livestats.internetconsult.com/desales/wbball.
In the second game on Saturday evening Paterson led by eight at the half and held off a late Pride rally to advance to the championship game with DeSales. Julie Haledjian and Michelle Pellichero combined for 38 of the 67 Pioneer points in the win, while Christine Cotter and Rachelle Walker totaled 34 of the 59 points for Springfield.
