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Dallas, PA (February 22, 2012) – Misericordia University used a 13-0 run mid-way thru the second-half, erasing a one-point deficit and held off one last DeSales University rally to end the Bulldogs season, 62-46, in the opening round of the Freedom Conference playoffs on Wednesday evening in the Anderson Center.

The loss is the first for the Bulldogs (15-11) in the Freedom Conference post-season in five years as DSU entered the season as the four-time defending Freedom Conference champions.  Misericordia (16-10) advances to the title game for the second straight year where it will face King's College, a narrow 55-53 winner over Eastern University in the other semifinal.

DeSales, who entered the game 15-1 when scoring 60+ points, had trouble scoring all night long.  DSU finished the game shooting just 33.3 percent for the game.  Misericordia shot just 34.7 percent themselves but did hit 6-of-9 from three-point land and cashed in from the line, converting 22-of-27 from the line as compared to just 5-for-10 for the Bulldogs.

DSU lead 14-12 in the first-half on a three from sophomore Megan Gallagher before an 11-0 Cougar run gave MU a 23-14 advantage with 3:47 left to play.  The Bulldogs regained control and finished the half on a 10-2 spurt to trail by just one point (25-24) at the break.

The Bulldogs took its first lead since 14-12 in the first-half early in the second half and continued to lead by one on a three-pointer from freshman Mikelyn Mackavage, her second of the game, with 12:09 remaining, but MU's Kayla Sileo answered with a three-pointer on the very next possession sparking a 13-0 run over the next four minutes to give the hosts a 47-35 lead.

DeSales chipped away scoring six straight points to trail 47-41 before six quick Cougar points pushed the lead back to 12.  Gallagher hit her second three of the game at the 3:03 mark and was at the line after a foul on Misericordia with 2:46 to go with a chance to make it a seven-point game but missed the front end of a 1-and-1 as Miseri iced the game from the line hitting 9-of-10 from the charity stripe over the final 2:26.

Sophomore Alexiah Grant was the lone Bulldog in double digits with 11 points, but shot just 4-for-16 from the field.  Junior Colleen Gavin tallied nine points, but was in foul trouble all evening, playing just 12 minutes and finishing with four fouls.  Sophomore Sondrine Glovas added eight points.

Gallagher finished with a career-high tying eight points and Mackavage gave DSU a boost off the bench with six points.  Seniors Hannah Smith and Cherelle Simmons finished their careers with Smith ranked fifth all-time in assists and Simmons, who had four points, nine rebounds, and four blocks on Wednesday, ranked first all-time in blocked shots and tied for third in rebounds.

Senior Christine Marks led the Cougars 18 points and 16 rebounds, junior Tyann McDaniel added 16 points, and Hannah Seely finished with 15 points and eight rebounds in the win.

The Bulldogs win 15+ games for the 18th straight season after advancing to the Freedom Conference playoffs for the 15th straight year.