Center Valley, PA (December 12, 2015) – The DeSales University women's basketball team cut an 18-point fourth quarter deficit down to as low as four points but were unable to complete the comeback falling to local rival Muhlenberg College, 86-78, on Saturday afternoon in Billera Hall.
Five players reached double digits in the loss including freshman
Leandra Sterner with a team-high 21 points, junior
Morgan McCollian with her fourth double-double of the season, 13 points and 11 rebounds, senior
Jen Napolitano with 12 points, freshman
Morgan Birmelin with 11 points, and freshman
Katie Miller with 10 points.
The Mules (8-0) were led by sophomore
Brandi Vallely with 22 points, eight rebounds, and 15 assists, while
Rachel Plotke scored a career-high 25 points on six made three's and
Christina Manning totaled 19 points as the three-some accounted for 66 of Muhlenberg's 86 points.
DeSales (4-4) controlled most of the first quarter as the Bulldogs never trailed and held a 25-22 lead after a jumper from senior
Kelly Anthony to end the quarter. Muhlenberg caught fire in the second quarter using a 13-3 run early to take a 36-30 lead as the two teams traded baskets over the final five minutes of the second quarter with MC leading 48-42 at the break.
The lead remained six (56-50) with 6:49 left in the third when Muhlenberg slowly built a 17-point lead holding DeSales scoreless for 5:05 before DSU closed the quarter on a 6-2 run to pull within 69-56 entering the final stanza.
Muhlenberg pushed its lead up to 18 points (76-58) with 6:59 left before the Bulldogs took over. DSU used a 14-0 run propelled by three-pointers from both Napolitano and Sterner to pull within four (76-72) with 2:12 remaining.
Vallely ended the spurt with two free throws and the Bulldogs had three good looks at a three and a lay-up on the ensuing possession to pull within one possession but were unable to capitalize as the Mules hit 8-of-8 charity tosses down the stretch to ice the win as MC was held without a basket for the final 6:59 of the game.
DSU controlled the glass, out-rebounding Muhlenberg, 47-36, and had more assists (18) than turnovers (16). After shooting 47.1 percent from the field in the opening half, the Bulldogs hit on just 32.5 percent in the second-half and Muhlenberg finished the game shooting 42.6 percent from the field for the game.
Sterner earns
A.B.E. Doors and Windows player of the game honors, totaling 21 points on 9-for-17 shooting.
The Bulldogs are off for finals this week and the Christmas holidays next week before returning to action on December 28
th when they take on Millsaps College in the first game of two at the D3hoops.com Classic in Las Vegas, NV.
