Box Score BOX SCORE
Glenside, Pa. (February 19, 2008) – The 24th ranked DeSales University women's basketball team used an 11-0 run to start the second half and never looked back in recording its 11th straight win, 79-54 over Arcadia University in Freedom Conference action, as they conclude the 2007-08 regular season and will now wait to see who they will face in the opening round of the Freedom Conference playoffs next week.
The Bulldogs finish the regular season with a 22-3 overall record and an 11-1 mark in the Freedom Conference. DSU had locked itself into the #1 position for the playoffs with its win on Saturday and will now sit and watch the final Freedom Conference games on Saturday, waiting to see who they will be facing in the opening round of the playoffs set to begin on Wednesday, February 27th.
The game was tight for much of the first half as a 7-0 DeSales run was answered with a 9-0 Arcadia run that saw DSU leading, 20-19, with 4:52 left in the opening half. Still leading by one, the Bulldogs closed the half on a 7-1 run to take a seven-point lead, 29-22, into the locker rooms. Senior Jenna Stampf (Nazareth, PA/Notre Dame) had the first four points and sophomore Kelly Magrann (Sinking Spring, PA/Holy Name) hit a three-pointer during the spurt.
The second half started all DeSales as it scored the first 11 points to extend its halftime advantage to 18 points, 40-22, and never looked back from that point. The Bulldogs, who came into the game ranked #1 in the country in free throw shooting, shot a perfect 8-for-8 from the line during the spurt and junior LeighAnn Burke (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) canned her first of three second-half three-pointers to lead the way.
The lead grew to as many as 28 points, 69-41, before the final 25-point margin was posted. DSU forced 27 Scarlet Knight turnovers and out-rebounded AU, 36-34. The Bulldogs continued its excellent shooting from the charity stripe canning 89.7 percent (26-of-29) as a team.
Burke finished with a game-high 22 points on 7-of-17 shooting, while junior Kim Rarick (Ringtown, PA/North Schuylkill) also reached double digits with 17 points and added seven assists. Stampf came off the bench to pour in 15 points, while senior Amanda Kuperavage (Port Carbon, PA/Nativity BVM) and sophomore Caitlin Miller (Fogelsville, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) each tallied eight points and Miller grabbed a game-high 12 rebounds.
Three Scarlet Knights reached double figures with 10 points including Stephanie Bates, Kim Milligan and Caitlin Sparks in the loss.
The Bulldogs are now able to rest for eight days prior to playing its first Freedom Conference playoff game on Wednesday, February 27th. DSU will learn of its opponent following Saturday's games in the final day of the regular season in the Freedom Conference. Game time and opponent will be announced on Monday after the weekend games are concluded.
