Center Valley, PA (November 20, 2014) – Sophomore Megan Baird scored a career-high 20 points and the DeSales University women's basketball team used a 22-2 run to end the first-half and start the second-half in a 72-59 win over Gwynedd-Mercy University on Thursday evening in Billera Hall.
 
Baird finished the game shooting 7-for-11 from the field and hit 4-of-5 from outside the arc.  Freshman Leandra Sterner fought foul trouble all night but finished with 15 points in just 20 minutes of action and junior Gabby Scott played well at the point finishing with six points, seven assists, four steals, and just one turnover in the win.
 
GMU was led by Chandler Difebbo with 16 points and Natasha Matthews with 12 points and seven boards.
 
Gwynedd opened the game in a zone and the Bulldogs were cold from the outside as the Griffins slowly built a nine-point lead on several occasions and led 31-22 with 3:46 left in the half when the Bulldogs started their run.
 
Five straight points by Baird and a three from freshman Emily Kiersnowski cut the deficit down to three points and Baird finished the half with five more points as DSU took a 35-33 lead into the locker room.
 
Baird hit another three to open the second-half before Sterner scored four straight and Baird hit another jumper to make it 44-33 just 3:36 into the second-half ending DSU's 22-2 run with Baird tallying 15 of her 20 points during the spurt.
 
GMU pulled to within seven points (49-42) with 10:25 left to play but the Bulldogs scored seven straight out of a timeout including a short jumper from sophomore Nikki Callahan, a three from senior Mikelyn Mackavage, and another lay-up from Baird to take a 14-point lead and DSU never looked back from there.
 
Sophomore Morgan McCollian finished the game with eight points and a team-high five rebounds and junior Jen Napolitano continued to play well off the bench with seven points to add to the scoring leaders.
 
DSU shot 45.9 percent from the field and hit 5-of-7 from three-point land in the second-half to shoot 38.5 percent for the game from outside the arc.  GMU had a big advantage at the foul line attempting 35 free throws but converted on just 60.0 percent for the game.
 
The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday when they travel down to Immaculata University for a non-conference game beginning at 1:00 pm.