Madison, NJ (January 31, 2007) – The DeSales University women’s basketball team opened up a 22-6 lead early in the opening half but were unable to hold on falling to Drew University, 72-68, in overtime of a Freedom Conference game on Wednesday evening in Baldwin Gymnasium.

 

        DSU (15-5, 7-2 Freedom) had everything working early opening up a 22-6 margin on a three-point play from freshman Kelly Magrann (Sinking Spring, PA/Holy Name) at the 11:15 mark.  The Bulldogs continued to lead by 11 at the 7:02 mark when the Rangers mounted its charge.  An 8-1 run to end the half made it a 26-22 game as DeSales scored just one point over the last seven minutes of the half.

 

        DSU scored the first four points of the second half to lead by eight, 30-22, but Drew (9-10, 4-5 Freedom) countered with an 8-0 spurt that tied the game at 30.  The game was back and forth over the next 10 minutes when Drew took a five-point lead on the strength of a 7-2 run.  Seniors Melissa Kraft and Courtney Cunningham scored all seven points during the run.

 

        Leading, 55-50, with 3:27 to go DSU tied the score at 56 on two freebies from junior Amanda Kuperavage (Port Carbon, PA/Nativity BVM) with 54 seconds on the clock.  Following a turnover by the Rangers, the Bulldogs had the ball with a chance to win the game.  After a DSU timeout, sophomore Kim Rarick (Ringtown, PA/North Schuylkill) drove the lane and hit an off-balance jumper in the lane to give the Bulldogs a two-point lead with 14 seconds left.

 

        Drew inbounded the ball and Kraft drove the length of the court missing an off-balance jumper but the rebound was loose in the lane and Kraft grabbed the ball and laid it in to send the game into overtime.

 

        In the overtime period, the Bulldogs took control as senior Kirby Lutz (Easton, PA/Pen Argyl) knocked down two free throws to give DSU a 66-62 lead with 1:34 on the clock.  A Cunningham runner in the lane cut the margin to two points and after a DSU turnover Kraft buried a three-pointer to give the Rangers a one point edge with 56 seconds left.

 

        Kuperavage missed a jumper on the other end but sophomore Lindsey Sykes (Avalon, NJ/Middle Township) stole the inbounds pass and was fouled on her way to the basket, knocking down two free throws to give DeSales a 68-67 lead with 28 seconds left.

 

        Kraft countered once again with a running one-hander in the lane plus one free throw to make it a 70-68 Ranger lead with 21 seconds left.  DSU called timeout but a Lutz jumper in the lane was off the mark and Kraft nailed two free throws with five seconds on the clock to provide the final margin.

 

        Lutz finished with a team-high 19 points and also grabbed seven rebounds and dished out five assists.  Rarick totaled 17 points on 8-of-12 shooting and freshman Kaila Wiand (Royersford, PA/Spring-Ford) came off the bench to tally 12 points for the Bulldogs.

 

        Kraft totaled 27 points and Cunningham added 24 as the duo combined for 51 of the 72 Drew points.  They combined to shoot 48 times and also grabbed 16 of the Rangers 34 rebounds.