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Center Valley, PA (January 25, 2012) – A 14-2 run over the final three minutes of the game capped off by two free throws by senior Hannah Smith with 15 seconds to break a tie at 60 gave the DeSales University women's basketball team a 64-60 win over Manhattanville College in Freedom Conference action on Wednesday night in Billera Hall.

DSU (10-8, 5-2 Freedom) trailed 58-50 at the 3:10 mark when it began its climb back.  One free throw from freshman Alex Suk cut it to seven before sophomore Sondrine Glovas rebounded the second miss and fellow sophomore Megan Gallagher hit a big three-pointer from the top of the key to quickly make it a four-point game with 2:29 to go.

Glovas hit two free throws after an MVille (6-11, 1-6 Freedom) turnover and Suk converted a short jumper in the lane with 1:21 to play to tie the score at 58.  Another Valiant turnover gave the Bulldogs possession with just over a minute to play and sophomore Alexiah Grant gave DSU its first lead of the second-half with an off-balance jumper in the lane, but Manhattanville's, Courtney Turner, re-tied the game just 20 seconds later on a driving lay-up as DeSales called timeout to set-up a final play with 16 seconds left.

On the inbounds play out of the timeout, MVille's Stephanie Vaiano ran into Smith as she caught the inbounds pass, forcing Smith into the backcourt as a foul was called and Smith knocked down both freebies to make it 62-60.  Vaiano had a chance to tie the game with five seconds left with a runner on the left block but senior Cherelle Simmons rotated over to alter the shot that was well long off the backboard and Grant came down with the rebound, knocking down both charity tosses to post the final score after being fouled.

Suk led the way with a season-high 16 points off the bench and also pulled down six rebounds.  Glovas netted 15 points and pulled down a team-high nine rebounds and sophomore Faith Gilbert came off the bench to score eight points.  Smith, Simmons, and Grant each had six points with Smith dishing out five assists in the win.

Turner led the Valiants with a double-double of 18 points and 12 boards, junior Jennifer Mcsharar also scored 18 points, and junior Taylor Wilson finished with 13 points and nine boards in the loss.

Manhattanville broke a tie at 20 late in the first-half with an 9-1 run to take a 29-21 lead before DSU scored seven straight points late in the half to pull within one just before a jumper at the buzzer by Dominique Wilson gave the visitor's a 33-30 halftime edge.

DSU tied the game at 35 out of the locker room after five straight points from Glovas but a 10-2 MVC run later in the half gave the Valiants their largest lead (48-39) with 9:37 left to play, before DeSales responded again with a 7-0 run to cut the margin down to two points with 6:49 to go.  Manhattanville slowly increased its advantage back to eight setting up the final three minutes of action.

The Bulldogs once again took excellent care of the ball, committing just 13 turnovers as compared to 22 for the Valiants.  MVC dominated the glass, out-rebounding DeSales, 50-34, but both teams benefitted on the offensive glass, scoring 18 second-chance points each.  DSU held a 20-5 scoring edge in points off turnovers.

DSU returns to action on Saturday when they travel to King's College for a Freedom Conference game beginning at 1:00 pm looking to avenge an earlier season loss to the Lady Monarchs in Billera Hall.