Late Run Dooms Bulldogs in Loss to TCNJ in NCAA First Round

Seniors Kim Rarick and LeighAnn Burke combined for 30 points and six assists in the loss on Friday vs. TCNJ

Box Score

BOX SCORE

Bethlehem, PA (March 6, 2009) – Senior LeighAnn Burke (Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) netted 23 points and nearly brought the DeSales University women's basketball team all the way back late in the second half but The College of New Jersey proved to have much too much inside, recording a 64-51 win over the Bulldogs in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Tournament.

The Bulldogs season comes to an end with a 23-5 overall record, while TCNJ (24-4 overall) advances to play the winner of the second game, Moravian/Tufts, on Saturday evening in Johnston Hall.

This was a game of runs as each team made pushes to take control but the Lions just had one extra push in them at the end, to earn the win. The first half saw the Bulldogs take a 15-12 lead as Burke drilled three treys to lead the way. TCNJ countered with a 9-1 run to take a 21-16 lead with 3:14 left in the opening half before junior Kelly Magrann (Sinking Spring, PA/Holy Name) scored five straight points and Burke hit another triple with 25 ticks left to tie game at 26 entering the locker rooms.

DSU shot just 33.3 percent in the opening half but scored 12 of their 26 points off 10 Lion turnovers. TCNJ held a 25-14 advantage on the glass but were just 1-for-10 from three-point land over the first twenty minutes.

DeSales took an early 30-29 lead in the second half when freshman Cherelle Simmons (Lancaster, PA/JP McCaskey) hit a jumper at the 17:21 mark, but New Jersey went on a 14-2 run over the next six and a half minutes to take a 43-32 lead with 10:51 to go. During the run senior Hillary Klimowicz scored the first eight points and Nicole Diaz and Lisa Koch each hit three-pointers to finalize the surge.

The Bulldogs were not done fighting however. Two free throws from senior Erica Sovak (Tuxedo, NY/Sleepy Hollow) started a 10-1 run in which the seniors did all the work. Following Sovak's freebies, senior Kim Rarick (Ringtown, PA/North Schuylkill) hit a lay-up in transition and then Burke went to work, hitting back-to-back three-pointers to pull DSU within two, 44-42, at the 7:40 mark.

The two Jostens trophy finalists then traded shot for shot over the next few possessions and with DeSales still trailing by two at the 5:01 mark, TCNJ scored 11 straight points to take a 13-point lead with 1:40 to go and DSU was unable to recover.

Burke finished her career with 23 points on a terrific 8-for-16 shooting effort including six three-pointers. Rarick returned from a broken left hand just 18 days ago to finish her career on the court with seven points and three assists in 26 minutes. This backcourt duo finished with an amazing combination of 3,290 points, 724 rebounds, 747 assists, and 510 steals. They are both ranked among the top seven all-time in three statistical categories and along with Sovak have amassed a four-year record of 81-31 (.723), won two Freedom Conference championships, and advanced to two NCAA Tournaments.

Simmons had a terrific game as well for DeSales finishing with 12 points and eight rebounds, while Magrann also played well of the bench with seven points.

Klimowicz recorded a double-double with 31 points and 15 rebounds and added six assists and three blocks in the win. Alexandra Gregorek came off the bench to score 12 points and Washington added nine points in the win.

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