Center Valley, PA (December 2, 2015) – The DeSales University women's basketball team forced 25 Manhattanville College turnovers leading to 26 points in a 70-57 win over the Valiants on Wednesday evening in Billera Hall in the MAC Freedom opener for both teams.
 
Freshman Morgan Birmelin led DSU (3-2, 1-0 MAC Freedom) with a season-high 19 points and added four assists and four steals in the win.  Freshman Leandra Sterner and sophomore Kaitlin Kelly led a bench that scored 37 points with 13 and 11 and junior Nikki Callahan had a terrific game with a team-high seven rebounds and three steals.
 
MVC (4-2, 0-1 MAC Freedom) was led by Bri Pabon with 17 points and Kayleah McGuire finished with 12 points and seven rebounds off the bench for the Valiants.
 
The game got off to a slow start as neither team could find the shooting rhythm as DSU took a 5-4 lead 5:08 into the game on a jumper from Sterner.  DSU continued to lead by one late in the first quarter before a 7-3 run from the Valiants gave the visitor's a 15-12 advantage at the end of one.
 
The Bulldogs controlled the second quarter as Kelly opened with a three on the first possession to tie the game and with the Valiants leading 21-18 with 6:26 left, DSU used a 6-0 run to take a 24-21 lead on a jumper from Birmelin.  MVC answered with five quick points but the Bulldogs finished the half out-scoring Manhattanville9-2 to take a 33-28 lead into the locker rooms.
 
It was all DeSales in the third quarter as DSU quickly pushed its lead up to 11 points with the first six points in the second-half.  The lead grew to as many as 13 points twice before the Bulldogs held a 54-42 edge heading into the fourth quarter after a pair of free throws from Sterner to end the quarter.
 
Manhattanville pulled to within single digits a few times early in the fourth quarter but a 7-0 run mid-way thru the final quarter gave DSU its largest lead of the game (16 points) and the Bulldogs never looked back from there.
 
DSU was excellent from the free throw line hitting 27-of-34 for 79.4 percent for the game and out-rebounded the Valiants, 38-37.
 
Birmelin earns A.B.E Doors and Windows player of the game leading DSU in points, assists, and steals.
 
The Bulldogs are back in action on action on Saturday when they travel to Misericordia University for another MAC Freedom game beginning at 1:00 pm.