BOX SCORE

Allentown, PA (January 18, 2009) – In what is hopefully a sign of things to come over the final six weeks of the regular season, the DeSales University women's basketball team proved they can play with anyone in the country on Monday night, falling just short in a 74-68 road loss to ninth ranked Muhlenberg College in a non-conference game at Memorial Hall.

The Bulldogs (6-9 overall) had complete control of this game over the first 30 minutes before the ninth ranked Mules (11-2 overall) used a 13-2 run over the next 4:30 to tie the game at 56 and scored six straight points with the game tied at 60 to pull away and survive the DeSales' upset bid.

DSU, which plays arguably one of the toughest schedules in the country, has now played four nationally ranked teams in its first 15 games, all of which are currently ranked in the top 16 in the D3hoops.com top 25 national poll. The Bulldogs have been competitive in all four games losing by double digits just once, by 12 points to #4 Kean University.

DeSales, however, is not really interested in what people might call “good losses” as it will look to build on tonight's performance over the final 10 games, nine of which are Freedom Conference games, to earn one of the four Freedom Conference playoff spots. Surely the Bulldogs are prepared for what lies ahead having played four of the top 16 teams in the country.

On Monday it was all DeSales over the first 30 minutes. A back-and-forth first 10 minutes of the game just seemed destined to be broken open by the Bulldogs and it eventually was as they used a 16-6 run over a span of five minutes to extend a one-point lead into an 11-point cushion with 5:57 to play in the first half. Back-to-back three-pointers by junior Lori Lidlow (Toms River, NJ/Toms River North) and senior Kelly Magrann (Sinking Spring, PA/Holy Name) started the run, while consecutive three's from junior Megan Montchyk (Bellmawr, NJ/Paul VI) finished off the rally with DeSales leading, 32-21.

Muhlenberg got within six twice, but another jumper from Montchyk pushed the lead up to eight points as both teams headed for the locker rooms. The DeSales' defense was the story over the first 20 minutes forcing 13 Mule turnovers and holding MC to just 29.4 percent shooting. Muhlenberg stayed in the game by out-rebounding DSU, 31-18, leading to nine second-chance points.

The first 10 minutes of the second half again also belonged to the visiting Bulldogs. Muhlenberg again got within six to start the second half but a 10-1 run over the next 4:15 gave DSU its largest lead of the game, 48-33, at the 14:51 mark. Magrann again started the spurt with a three and Lidlow had five of the 10 tallies during the run.

DSU continued to lead by 11 points at the 10:00 minute mark after a jumper from freshman Colleen Gavin (Quakertown, PA/Quakertown) before Muhlenberg used its 13-2 run over the next 4:30 to tie the game. Both teams traded baskets over the next two possessions as the game was tied at 60 before a lay-up from Alita Zabrecky gave MC its first lead of the game and Kelly McKeon followed with a lay-up and Alexandra Chili added two free throws to give the Mules a 66-60 advantage with 2:23 to go.

Sophomore Cherelle Simmons (Lancaster, PA/JP McCaskey) pulled the Bulldogs within three with a three-point play at the 1:15 mark but Chili buried a three-pointer on the other end in transition as DeSales was forced to foul and Muhlenberg made 3-of-4 freebies over the final 32 seconds to clinch the win.

DSU did a lot of things well on Monday night including committing just 10 turnovers and shooting 7-of-14 (50.0 percent) from three-point land. Muhlenberg dominated the glass, using a 60-32 advantage on the back boards en route to 17 second chance points.

Lidlow finished with 19 points, including the 1,000th of her career after scoring 793 at Lebanon Valley College over her first two years and now 224 with the Bulldogs thru the first 15 games. Gavin finished with her third double-double of the season with 12 points and a team-high 15 rebounds, while Simmons added 13 points. Montchyk came off the bench to tally a career-high 11 points and Magrann added eight points.

Chili finished with a game-high 26 points, nine rebounds, and six assists, while McKeon totaled 13 points, eight rebounds, and four assists. Sheila Cook also reached double figures with 15 points for the Mules.

DeSales is right back in action on Wednesday night when they host Wilkes University in an important Freedom Conference game in Billera Hall beginning at 6:00 pm. Both LIVE Stats and LIVE Audio will be available on the DSU web site for those who are unable to attend.