Box Score BOX SCORE
Doylestown, Pa. (February 13, 2008) – The 25th ranked DeSales University women's basketball team out-scored Delaware Valley College 46-22 in the second half to record its ninth straight win overall, 84-55, on Wednesday evening in Freedom Conference action at James Work Gymnasium.
DeSales improves to 20-3 overall and 9-1 in the Freedom Conference standings, while the Aggies fall to 11-11 overall and 6-4 in the Freedom. The win clinches the Bulldogs 11th straight appearance in the Freedom Conference playoffs in two weeks and gives them a two-game lead over FDU-Florham for the #1 seed in the playoffs. DSU hosts FDU-Florham on Saturday in Billera Hall in a rematch of its only loss in the conference this season and a win over the Devils would clinch the top seed in the playoffs.
Leading by seven points, 47-40, at the 13:05 mark of the second half the Bulldogs went on a 21-2 run over the next 5:27 to build a 26-point advantage, 68-42, to put the game away. During the run six different players scored as junior LeighAnn Burke (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) led the way with nine points and fellow junior Kim Rarick (Ringtown, PA/North Schuylkill) added four tallies.
The first half was a back-and-forth battle that saw six ties and 10 lead changes before the Bulldogs broke a tie at 31 with a 7-2 run to end the half to build a five-point lead, 38-33. Freshman Megan Montchyk (Bellmawr, NJ/Paul VI) gave DSU a huge lift off the bench with eight points in the opening half to equal Rarick's team-high of eight points over the first twenty minutes.
The Bulldogs finished the game out-rebounding DVC, 42-35, and forcing 20 Aggie miscues. After shooting just 35.3 percent in the opening half, DSU canned 58.1 percent in the second half to pull away. DeSales also took excellent care of the ball committing just 11 turnovers as compared to 16 assists. Delaware Valley opened the game shooting 41.9 percent in the first half but made just 26.1 percent in the final period.
Burke led the way with a game-high 20 points on 9-of-19 shooting. She canned two three-pointers to break the Bulldogs single-season record held by Jen Netwall as she now has 56 made treys on the season. Rarick added 19 points, four assists and four steals in the win and Montchyk finished with her first career double figure scoring effort with 10 points. Sophomore Caitlin Miller (Fogelsville, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) finished with nine points and a team-high 11 rebounds.
Senior Moira Donohue totaled a team-high 19 points and senior Brooke Dittmar added six points and a game-high 13 rebounds in the loss.
The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday, February 16th when they host FDU-Florham in a Freedom Conference game beginning at 1:00 pm. The game will be the final regular season home game for DSU's three seniors. For those unable to attend you can follow the game's progress online via LIVE STATS locally on the radio on Fox 1470 am which can also be heard online at the following link – RADIO.
