Las Vegas, NV (December 27, 2015) – The DeSales University women's basketball team used a 16-0 run between the end of the second quarter and the beginning of the third quarter and cruised in the second-half for a 58-43 win over Millsaps College in the first game of the D3hoops.com Classic in Las Vegas, NV on Monday afternoon.
 
Down 24-20 with 3:13 left in the second quarter DSU (5-4) scored seven straight points to close the half for a 27-24 lead and scored the first nine points of the second-half to take a 36-24 lead and never looked back from there.
 
Freshman Morgan Birmelin and juniors Megan Baird and Morgan McCollian provided all the scoring punch in the run with Birmelin totaling six points, McCollian five points, and Baird five points.
 
The lead grew to as many as 20 points once in the fourth quarter and fell below double digits just one time in the second-half.
 
Millsaps (5-5) started strong out-scoring DeSales 18-13 in the first quarter but tallied just six points in the second quarter when DSU took control.  The Bulldogs out-rebounded the taller Majors, 51-47, and committed just eight turnovers as compared to 18 for MC leading to a 15-2 edge in points off turnovers for DeSales.
 
Birmelin was outstanding all afternoon as the only Bulldog in double digits with 19 points.  McCollian was one rebound and one point shy of a double-double, and senior Jen Napolitano and sophomore Kaitlin Kelly each hit two three's and had eight points in the win.
 
Braxton Thomas led Millsaps with 14 points.
 
Birmelin earns A.B.E. Doors and Windows player of the game for the Bulldogs adding three assists and three steals to her game-high 19 points.
 
The Bulldogs are back in action tomorrow when they take on La Verne in the second game of the D3hoops.com classic at 1:00 pm eastern time.