Center Valley, PA (November 18, 2017) - The DeSales University women's basketball team forced 40+ turnovers for the second straight game en route to an 85-45 win over Alvernia University in the first game of the Morgan Stanley (Easton office) Tip-off Tournament on Saturday afternoon.

The Bulldogs (2-0) advance to the championship game on Sunday afternoon to take on the winner of the other first round game between Centenary University and Lancaster Bible College beginning at 4:00 pm.

Twelve different players scored for DeSales in the win including junior Leandra Sterner (Northampton, PA) with a game-high 16 points, senior Kaitlin Kelly (Newtown, PA) with 14 points off the bench, and senior Angelica Bertola (East Stroudsburg, PA) with 10 points.  Junior Morgan Birmelin (Honesdale, PA) came very close to recording the first-ever triple-double for the second straight game totaling nine points, seven assists, and a school-record 12 steals in the win.  Bertola added seven steals and Kelly had five assists to lead the Bulldogs.

Alvernia got 14 points and seven rebounds from freshman Michaela Miller and Torie Zerbe grabbed a game-high 10 rebounds for the Golden Wolves (0-2).

The first quarter was back and forth featuring three ties and two lead changes as the Bulldogs scored seven of the final nine points to grab an 18-15 lead.

The second quarter was all DeSales as they held AU to just five points and scored 27 of its own to take a commanding 45-20 lead into the locker room.  Sterner scored six of the first eight DSU points of the quarter and Kelly had a team-high nine in the quarter.

The lead continued to grow in the second-half and peaked at 44 (83-39) with 1:53 left to play before the final margin was posted.

The Bulldogs finished the game shooting 40.8 percent from the field.  DSU scored 40 points off the 40 caused turnovers and had 30 fast break points.  DeSales also dominated the glass out-rebounding AU, 50-37, for the game.

Birmelin earns A.B.E Doors and Windows Player of the Game honors after setting a new school-record in steals.