BOX SCORE

Center Valley, PA (November 24, 2009) – The DeSales University women's basketball team just couldn't put the ball in the hoop on Tuesday evening as the Bulldogs shot just 25.4 percent from the field, dropping a 51-48 decision to local rival Moravian College in a non-conference game in Billera Hall.

The game was an offensive struggle for both teams the entire evening. DeSales made just 17-of-67 shots (25.4 percent), while Moravian wasn't much better from the field shooting just 27.1 percent (16-for-59). The two teams combined to shoot 2-of-19 from three-point land (one make each), but they both faired very well at the free throw line as the Greyhounds (4-1 overall) shot 78.3 percent (18-for-23) and the Bulldogs (3-1 overall) canned 76.5 percent (13-for-17).

Both teams are known to be two of the top defensive teams in the country year in and year out, but on Tuesday it was more about the offense as neither team was ever able to get going as Moravian did just enough to win another hard-fought local battle.

DeSales led 12-10 mid-way thru the second half before Moravian used an 8-0 run over a two and a half minute span to build an 18-12 lead with 7:32 to go in the opening half. The game went back and forth over the final seven minutes before a Kirsty Stearns jumper extended the lead to eight with 1:27 to go as both teams headed to the locker room. DeSales was just 9-of-34 (26.5%) from the field in the opening half, while Moravian went 10-for-33 (30.3%).

In the second half the lead swelled to 11 at the 17:42 mark as the two teams battled to try and regain control on the offensive end. Two Stearns free throws at the 8:05 made it a 12-point game (44-32) and the Greyhounds continued to lead by 10 with 6:14 to go when senior Caitlin Miller (Fogelsville, PA/Northwestern Lehigh) hit DSU's lone three of the game as DSU scored five straight points to pull within five at 45-40 with 4:44 left to play.

DSU had several open looks over the next two possessions but none of the shots fell and Amy Heffner knocked down four straight free throws to build the lead back to nine points with 3:21 remaining. DSU chipped away with consecutive lay-ups over a two minute span but missed two critical free throws in between those two lay-ups and never got any closer than the three-point margin on a short jumper from freshman Colleen Gavin (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown) at the buzzer, ending the game.

The Bulldogs once again controlled the glass, out-rebounding Moravian, 52-45, for the game. Miller recorded her second double-double in as many games with 15 points and 12 boards, while sophomore Cherelle Simmons (Lancaster, PA/JP McCaskey) had seven points and career-high 14 rebounds in the loss. Gavin played well off the bench with eight points and eight rebounds.

Stearns posted a double-double of her own with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while senior Kate Harrison also reached double figures with 12 points.

DeSales breaks for the Thanksgiving holiday and will return to action on Wednesday, December 2nd when they begin Freedom Conference play at home with a rematch of last year's Freedom Conference Championship game vs. Manhattanville College. Game time is set for 6:00 pm. Once again for those not able to attend you can follow the game online via LIVE Stats and/or LIVE Audio.