Glenside, PA (January 6, 2016) – The DeSales University women's basketball team shook off a tough first-half shooting 46.9 percent in the second-half and out-scoring Arcadia University, 45-22, over the final 20 minutes in a 65-50 win in non-conference action on Wednesday evening.
Junior
Morgan McCollian led the Bulldogs (8-4) recording her sixth double-double of the season with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Freshman
Morgan Birmelin and sophomore
Kaitlin Kelly each added nine points, while senior
Jen Napolitano and freshman
Katie Miller added eight points apiece.
Arcadia (7-6) saw
Sammy Downham total a team-high nine points in the loss.
DeSales struggled in the first-half shooting just 6-for-32 (18.8%) from the field and committing 13 first-half turnovers leading to 12 points for Arcadia as the Knights led by as many as 10 points and had an eight-point advantage (28-20) as the two teams headed to the locker room.
DSU opened the second-half scoring 10 of the first 12 points tying the game at 30 on a corner jumper from junior
Nikki Callahan at the 4:52 mark. Both teams struggled to find the mark over the final five minutes of the quarter as Arcadia clung to a 35-34 lead entering the final 10 minutes.
Miller opened the fourth quarter with a three and two free throws on the next possession giving the Bulldogs a 39-35 lead. AU tied the game with four straight points but a three-point play from McCollian pushed back in front and ignited a 9-0 run that pushed DSU up 48-39 with 6:03 left and the Bulldogs never looked back from there.
The Bulldogs hit 16-of-19 (84.2%) from the free throw line and out-rebounded AU, 49-39 for the game. DSU committed just four second-half turnovers and held Arcadia to 33.3 percent shooting for the game.
McCollian earns
A.B.E. Doors and Windows Player of the Game honors recorded her sixth double-double of the season in the win.
The Bulldogs are off this weekend and will return to action on Monday when they host Immaculata University in a non-conference game beginning at 7:00 pm.
