Center Valley, PA (February 11, 2015) – Sophomore Morgan McCollian was two blocks shy of the first career triple-double in women's basketball history as the Bulldogs defense dominated Wilkes University holding the Colonels to just 20.0 percent shooting in a 46-40 win on Wednesday evening in Freedom Conference action in Billera Hall.
 
McCollian finished with 10 points, 11 rebounds, and eight blocks, tying the school-record for blocks in a game to lead DeSales (13-9, 7-4 Freedom).  Senior Mikelyn Mackavage added nine points, sophomore Nikki Callahan had seven points and six assists, and senior Alex Suk and junior Kelly Anthony each pulled down 11 rebounds in the win.
 
Wilkes (9-11, 4-7 Freedom) was led by senior Elena Stambone who finished with 17 points on 7-of-25 shooting.  Cara Basile grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds in the loss and Chelsea Smelas finished with seven points and seven rebounds.
 
DeSales was on fire to start the game racing out to an 11-1 lead thanks to three treys, two by Mackavage as Wilkes missed its first 12 shots from the field.  DSU then went on a drought scoring just six points over the next 14 minutes as the Colonels chipped away and took an 19-17 lead late in the first-half.  A lay-up from McCollian tied the game and the two teams traded baskets to end the half with the score tied at 21.
 
The game remained tied early in the second-half before Mackavage's third triple of the game pushed DSU ahead, 32-28, with 15:16 left to play.  The Bulldogs clung to a five-point lead (36-31) with 11:38 to go when both teams went scoreless over the next three minutes before two free throws from freshman Kaitlin Kelly and a steal and fast break lay-up from Callahan gave DeSales a 40-31 edge with 8:22 to go.
 
It was still a nine-point lead (44-35) with 2:59 left when Wilkes mounted a charge.  Three straight Bulldog turnovers gave Wilkes a chance to make a comeback and they responded with a quick 5-0 run to cut the lead down to 44-40 with 1:40 left.
 
Out of a Wilkes timeout, DSU worked the ball around to a wide open Kelly who was long with a three but Anthony was there to grab the offensive board and Callahan was fouled going to the basket.  She knocked down 1-of-2 and following a Stambone miss on the other end sophomore Megan Baird was fouled and hit 1-of-2 as well to push the lead to six points as Wilkes missed two shots on the other end as time expired.
 
In addition to shooting just 21.0 percent from the field, Wilkes also struggled mightily at the free throw line, converting just 11-of-25 (44.0 percent) in the loss.  DSU only hit 29.7 percent from the field.  The Bulldogs were outstanding on defense forcing 19 turnovers, owning a slim 53-52 edge on the glass, and blocking a season-high 12 shots in the win.
 
DeSales remains in sole possession of third place in the Freedom Conference standings, just one game ahead of Delaware Valley College (also a winner on Wednesday), and two games ahead of King's College (who lost to Eastern on Wednesday).
 
The Bulldogs return to action on Saturday when they travel to FDU-Florham with game time set for 1:00 pm.