BOX SCORE

Dallas, PA (January 13, 2009) – Junior Lori Lidlow (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) and senior Kelly Magrann (Sinking Spring, PA/Holy Name) combined for 29 points but it wasn't enough as the DeSales University women's basketball team fell at Misericordia University, 57-53, in a Freedom Conference game on Wednesday evening.

The Bulldogs (5-8, 1-3 Freedom) started quickly, opening up a 15-4 lead over the first seven and a half minutes with some timely shooting and terrific defense. The Cougars (8-5, 4-0 Freedom) scored the next seven points to cut the margin down to four points but a three-pointer from Magrann gave DSU a 20-13 lead with 7:00 minutes left in the opening half.

The rest of the first half, DSU went ice cold, scoring just three points (another Magrann triple) as Misericordia finished the half on an 18-3 run to take an eight-point lead, 31-23, on a three at the buzzer by Alivia Richter.

In the second half, MU continued to lead holding a nine-point advantage (36-27) four minutes into the half when the Bulldogs caught fire, going on a 9-0 run to tie the game at 36 at the 12:29 mark. During the run, Lidlow tallied four points and senior Kaila Wiand (Royersford, PA/Spring-Ford) hit a big three-pointer, one of two in the half for Wiand.

The game went back-and-forth the rest of the half. DSU took its largest lead of the half, 45-41, at the 7:54 mark but went scoreless over the next 3:52 as Misericoridia chipped away and took a 48-45 lead at the 3:38 mark. The Bulldogs got within two points twice but each time the Cougars answered the bucket with free throws on its offensive end.

Trailing by four points with 21 seconds left, Lidlow drove the lane and found Magrann alone in the corner and she knocked down a three-pointer to cut the lead down to one point, but MU hit three free throws over the final 21 ticks and DSU was not able to score the rest of way. DSU held Misericordia without a field goal over the final 4:10, but the Cougars made 11 foul shots over the final four minutes to earn the win.

Lidlow finished with a team-high 17 points, while Magrann added 12 points, all of which came on three-pointers. Sophomore Cherelle Simmons (Lancaster, PA/JP McCaskey) had six points and a team-high 13 rebounds, while fellow sophomore Hannah Smith (New Cumberland, PA/Cedar Cliff) dished out seven assists and had six steals. Wiand led the charge off the bench with eight points.

Misericordia was led by Jesse Robinson with 16 points and Christine Marks, who registered a double-double with 13 points and 13 rebounds.

The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday, January 16th when they travel to FDU-Florham for another Freedom Conference game beginning at 1:00 pm.