Box Score BOX SCORE
Wilkes-Barre, Pa. (February 6, 2008) – Junior LeighAnn Burke (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) scored a game-high 33 points on 12-of-19 shooting to lead the DeSales University women's basketball team past King's College, 67-57, on Wednesday evening in Freedom Conference action.
The win moves DeSales to 18-3 overall and 7-1 in the Freedom Conference, while the Lady Monarchs fall to 11-10 overall and 5-3 in the Freedom. Trailing by two points at the half, DeSales out-scored King's 41-29 in the second half to record the road win. The Bulldogs shot 48.3 percent from the field in the second half and committed just four turnovers in the second period and just 10 for the game.
The first half was back and forth and saw the score tied three times and the lead changes hands six times. King's led by six, 28-22, with 2:05 to go in the half before the Bulldogs scored the last four points to cut the margin down to just two at the break. Burke led all scorers with 10 tallies in the opening half.
Leading by four, 47-43, at the 8:27 mark of the second half, DeSales used a 7-2 run to take its largest lead of the night at 54-45 with 7:10 on the clock. The Lady Monarchs countered with a 6-0 spurt to cut the deficit down to three points but junior Kim Rarick (Ringtown, PA/North Schuylkill) scored six straight points to push the lead back to nine points with 2:59 remaining.
After a three-pointer from sophomore Jessica Paettie cut the lead to six points, Burke nailed a three of her own on the next possession and the Bulldogs canned 4-of-5 free throws down the stretch to secure the victory.
Burke added four steals to her 33 tallies, 23 of which came in the second half. Rarick also finished in double digits with 12points and added five assists and senior Amanda Kuperavage (Port Carbon, PA/Nativity BVM) finished with eight points, five assists and a game-high 12 rebounds in the win.
King's was led by senior Lauren Kendra with 12 points, senior Andrea Hochstuhl with 11 points and seven rebounds and junior Kaitlyn Fiorino with 10 points in the loss.
The Bulldogs will return to action on Saturday, February 9th when they host Manhattanville College in another Freedom Conference game beginning at 1:00 pm. For those unable to attend you can follow the game online via a radio web cast HERE or live stats HERE.
