Dallas, PA (January 21, 2017) – The DeSales University women's basketball team held Misericordia University to 25.5 percent shooting, gutting out a 44-41 road win in MAC Freedom action on Saturday afternoon.
 
Sophomore Leandra Sterner was the only Bulldog (13-4, 5-1 MAC Freedom) in double digits with 10 points, while sophomore Morgan Birmelin added eight points and seniors Morgan McCollian and Nicole Umbenhauer each had six points.  Umbenhauer was sensational on the glass pulling down a career-high 12 rebounds and senior Nikki Callahan had five assists.
 
The Cougars (10-6, 4-2 MAC Freedom) got 16 points and 15 rebounds from Justine Seely in the loss as the lone double digit scorer.
 
DSU trailed early (11-7) before finishing the first quarter and second quarter on identical 7-0 runs taking a 29-23 into the halftime locker room.
 
The Bulldogs locked down the Cougars in the third quarter holding MU to just four points and without a field goal building a 14-point lead entering the final quarter.
 
DeSales then went ice cold themselves hitting just 1-for-13 and scoring just three points in the final quarter but rode a strong defensive effort to the win.
 
MU got within five (43-38) with 4:46 to go and were within two at the 1:19 mark after two free throws.  Consecutive turnovers gave DSU the ball but another turnover gave MU possession with a chance to tie.  A three-pointer was off the mark as Umbenhauer secured the board and the Cougars were forced to foul with just one team foul.
 
After three consecutive fouls the fourth inbounds pass fell out of bounds and Misericordia regained possession.  Callahan came up with a big steal and was fouled.  She knocked down 1-of-2 free throws and a last second three-pointer was long as time expired on MU's comeback.
 
The Bulldogs forced 24 Cougar turnovers and scored 18 points off those turnovers in the win, while DSU committed just 15 miscues, leading to just three points for MU.
 
Umbenhauer earns A.B.E. Doors and Windows Player of the Game honors for her career-high in rebounds.
 
DeSales returns to action on Wednesday when they host King's College in another MAC Freedom game beginning at 6:00 pm in Billera Hall.