Seniors Carry #9 Bulldogs past Scranton, 65-57, in Starter’s Pub Title Game

Senior Erica Sovak's three late in the second-half led DeSales to the come from behind win over Scranton on Sunday.

Box Score

BOX SCORE

Center Valley, PA (November 16, 2008) – When the smoke cleared on the latest chapter of another battle between DeSales and Scranton, the DeSales University seniors had the final say leading a spirited comeback in the second half to earn a 65-57 win over The University of Scranton in the championship game of the Starter's Pub Tip-Off Tournament on Sunday afternoon.

The ninth ranked Bulldogs improve to 2-0 with the win, while the Lady Royals fall to 1-1 early in the season. Both teams struggled thru a poor shooting first half (25.8% for Scranton, 33.3% for DSU) to shoot over 48% in the second half as DeSales put up 45 second-half points erasing a one-point halftime deficit and earning the hard-fought early season win.

Over the past three plus years the headlines usually contain the words “Burke” or “Rarick” but today it was DSU's third senior, Erica Sovak (Tuxedo, NY/George F. Baker), who did her part hitting a huge three-pointer late in the second half and recording three clutch steals all in the second half to contribute to the win.

DSU took control of this game mid-way thru the first half using a 9-2 run to take an 18-11 lead as seniors LeighAnn Burke (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) and Kim Rarick (Ringtown, PA/North Schuylkill) combined for all nine points. Scranton countered the spurt with an 8-0 run of their own erasing DSU's seven-point lead as the visitor's stole the momentum taking a one-point lead into halftime.

That momentum carried over into the second half as UofS used an 11-2 run early in the second half to build its largest lead of the game (nine points) at the 16:03 mark, 34-25. The game went back-and-forth over the next eight minutes as the Bulldogs would cut the margin to four points several times but Scranton was always there with a counter, holding a four to eight point advantage over the eight minute stretch.

Trailing by six, 45-39, at the 8:19 mark, DeSales broke thru as Burke nailed a three-pointer, then off Sovak's third steal of the half, Burke drove the lane hitting a running one-hander plus a free throw to tie the game at 45. The two teams traded baskets over the next few possessions before a three-pointer by Colleen McLane and a lay-up from Molly Klusek gave the Lady Royals a four-point lead with 3;28 remaining.

One free throw by Burke cut the margin down to three points and after a Scranton miss on the other end and the shot clock ticking down to zero, freshman Megan Bedard (Limerick, PA/Spring-Ford) found Sovak in the right corner as she let go on a three-pointer that rattled home tying the game for the ninth time at 53.

A lay-up from Megan Kopecki quieted the DSU crowd but Burke was fouled on the ensuing possession and calmly knocked down both freebies tying the score once again. Klusek was fouled underneath the basket on the Lady Royals next trip down the floor but her charity toss was off the mark and junior Caitlin Miller (Fogelsville, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) snatched the rebound and was fouled in the act. Miller sank both free throws giving DSU a two-point lead with 1:22 left and after a DSU miss, Rarick was fouled with 1:01 to play and in what she has grown so accustomed to doing over the past three plus years sank two more freebies to give DSU a four-point lead and ultimately the win as DeSales went 12-for-12 from the line over the last 1:44 of the game to seal the victory.

Burke had a game-high 21 points on another solid shooting night going 7-for-11. She was named to the All-Tournament Team and was joined on the team by the tournament's Most Valuable Player, Kim Rarick, who finished with 18 points, including six very important free throws down the stretch.

Miller finished with nine points and nine rebounds, Bedard had another solid game on both ends of the floor with eight points and three assists, and Sovak finished with five points and three steals in the win.

DSU will return to action on Wednesday, November 19^th when they host Wesley College in a non-conference game beginning at 7:00 pm. The game will once again feature LIVE stats at the following link – CLICK HERE, and it is also scheduled to be the first of several games this season with live audio available online through DSU's campus radio station. More information about the live audio will come Monday or Tuesday.

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