Ice Cold Bulldogs Upset at Home, 68-66

Senior Kim Rarick had 14 points in the loss to Alvernia on Saturday.

Box Score

BOX SCORE

Center Valley, PA (January 10, 2009) – It might as well have been snowing in the gym on Saturday as the 12^th ranked DeSales University women's basketball team was ice cold from the field, particularly in the second half, as Alvernia University upset the Bulldogs, 68-66, in a Freedom Conference game on Saturday afternoon in Billera Hall.

DSU (9-2, 4-1 Freedom) could get nothing to drop in the hoop in the second half, shooting 27.0 percent (10-for-37) to see its 21-game home winning streak come to an end at the hands of the Crusaders (6-5, 3-2 Freedom). The Bulldogs did a lot of things well including committing only eight turnovers and out-rebounding Alvernia, 47-44. DeSales also attempted 18 more shots than Alvernia but fell two points short on the scoreboard in the loss.

DeSales led for most of the first half and actually took a 12-point lead at the 4:26 mark following a 13-1 run highlighted by two three-pointers from freshman Hannah Smith (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff), but Alvernia chipped away at that lead and when sophomore Kelly McIntyre connected on a pull back three-pointer with five seconds left, DSU clung to a three-point lead, 40-37, at the break.

In the second half, the Bulldogs continued to lead for most of the half but were never able to gain more than a four-point advantage as the shots just did not fall and they were unable to pull away. After Alvernia tied the game at 57, consecutive lay-ups from senior LeighAnn Burke (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) put DSU up four with eight minutes left.

From that point DSU could not buy a basket and was held without a point over the next seven minutes before senior Kim Rarick (Ringtown, PA/North Schuylkill) ended the drought with a three-pointer at the 1:16 mark. Prior to Rarick's three, the Crusaders used a methodical 10-0 run that included two clutch jumpers from freshman CeCe Buzzard giving AU a four-point lead as well as two jumpers from McIntyre.

Following the Rarick three, junior Joanna Graber hit 1-of-2 from the line and following another DSU miss, Burke flicked away the ball on defense and connected on a lay-up in the open court to cut the deficit down to two points with 32 seconds left.

On the ensuing inbounds pass, the ball was nearly stolen again as it was tipped around for several seconds before Graber grabbed it and was fouled again. This time she missed the first attempt of a one-and-one with 13 seconds left but an off-balance finger roll on the other end was off the mark and tipped around several times on the rebound and when Rarick was finally able to grab the loose ball time had run out and Alvernia had secured the upset.

Burke finished with a team-high 17 points on just 8-of-22 shooting, while Rarick totaled 14 points and added five steals. DSU played much of the game saddled with early foul trouble as five players were forced to the bench with two first-half fouls and Rarick missed a crucial part of the second half with four fouls for the Bulldogs.

McIntyre scored a game-high 30 points on a terrific 12-for-23 shooting effort. Freshman Allison Toczylowski finished with 12 points and nine rebounds and sophomore Alexandra Velazquez added a double-double with 13 points and 11 boards in just 18 minutes of action.

The Bulldogs return to action on Monday, January 12^th when they host Manhattanville College in a Freedom Conference game beginning at 6:00 pm. You can follow the game's progress online via LIVE Stats or LIVE Audio if you are unable to attend.

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