Wilkes-Barre, PA (February 21, 2007) – In what has seemed like déjà vu over the last three weeks the DeSales University women’s basketball opened up a double digit lead early in the second half but could not hold on late as the Bulldogs fell to King’s College, 83-78, in the opening round of the Freedom Conference playoffs on Wednesday evening in Scandlon Gymnasium.

 

        DeSales (16-10 overall) played a brilliant first-half on the defensive side of the ball holding the Lady Monarchs (19-7 overall) to just 29 first-half points and forcing 13 KC turnovers.  The Bulldogs shot only 33 percent in the opening half but their defense led them to a four-point lead, 33-29, at the break.

 

        The first-half momentum seemed to carry over in the second half as a 9-3 run out of the locker room saw DSU leading 42-32 with 17:49 left on the clock after five straight points from sophomore LeighAnn Burke (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan).

 

        After a timeout, King’s responded with a 15-3 run that turned a 10-point deficit into a three-point lead, 47-44, in a matter of three and a half minutes.  During the spurt Andrea Hochstuhl had seven points and guards Jenna Palumbo and Andrea Carroll each hit three-pointers to lead the way.

 

        The game was back and forth over the next 11 minutes as neither team led by more than three points until KC ran off five straight points including a three-pointer from Palumbo at the 2:34 mark to take a 73-66 lead.  A free throw by Hochstuhl pushed the lead to eight points before DSU mounted a rally.

 

        Freshman Kaila Wiand (Royersford, PA/Spring-Ford) hit a three-pointer that was followed by a steal and one foul shot from senior Kirby Lutz (Easton, PA/Pen Argyl).  Sophomore Kim Rarick (Ringtown, PA/North Schuylkill) followed the Lutz freebie with another steal and a fast break lay-up and DSU found itself trailing by just two points, 74-72, with 1:04 on the clock.

 

        Before the Bulldogs could even blink however, Hochstuhl was found loose on the offensive end and Palumbo fired a long pass to her as she laid it in to push the lead back to four points, 76-72, with just 56 seconds left.  A three-point attempt from Rarick on the next possession was just off the mark and the Lady Monarchs hit 5-of-6 foul shots down the stretch to seal the win.

 

        Lutz was terrific in what might be her last collegiate game as she poured in 27 points, grabbed seven rebounds and had five steals.  She shot 8-for-16 from the field and converted on 11-of-16 from the free throw line.  Burke also registered double digits with 17 points and Rarick finished with 16 tallies and six assists.  Wiand also played well coming off the bench to score 12 points.

 

        Hochstuhl recorded a double-double with 27 points and 15 rebounds to lead King’s.  Palumbo totaled 15 points and Kaitlyn Fiorino finished with 13 points rounding out the double figure scoring.