Center Valley, PA (December 2, 2017) - Senior Kaitlin Kelly (Newtown, PA) knocked down a three-pointer from the fight corner at the buzzer lifting the DeSales University women's basketball team past Sage College, 66-63, in non-conference action on Saturday afternoon in Billera Hall.

The Bulldogs (4-2) snap a two-game losing skid with the win and were led by four players in double digits including Kelly and junior Morgan Birmelin (Honesdale, PA) with 13 points each.  Junior Leandra Sterner (Northampton, PA) and senior Angelica Bertola (East Stroudsburg, PA) also had double digits with 12.  Birmelin added a team-high eight assists and Kelly pulled down a team-high seven rebounds in the win.  Junior Bridget Walsh (Dunmore, PA) finished with a season-high four blocks off the bench.

Sage (3-2) got 15 points each from Emily Parslow and Macie Holmes and a double-double with 10 points and 14 boards from Genevieve Schoff.

DeSales won this game in the fourth quarter opening the final stanza with a 9-0 run to take a 55-49 lead thanks to five quick points from Sterner and buckets from Walsh and Kelly.  DSU still led by eight (63-55) with 5:04 before going cold from the field, missing its next four shots and committing three turnovers as Sage slowly tied the game at 63 with 2:56 left.

Both teams had chances to take the lead and with 32 seconds left the Gators were long on a three-pointer as the Bulldogs secured the rebound.  After multiple timeouts and Sage giving its last foul to give, DSU had possession with 6.9 on the clock.  Kelly worked around a screen and popped out on the left sideline where Birmelin found her wide open and her long attempt hit back iron and dropped in as the buzzer sounded giving the Bulldogs the win.

DeSales had raced out to a 9-2 lead to start the game before Sage used a 19-6 run to take a 21-15 lead.  The Gators continued to lead by three at the half.

DSU tied the game at 36 early in the third quarter but eight quick points from Sage pushed its advantage up to eight before the Bulldogs slowly cut it down to three after three quarters of play setting up the final stanza.

The Bulldogs did a wonderful job of taking care of the ball committing just 13 turnovers as compared to 20 assists led by Birmelin who had eight assists and just one miscue.  DSU also forced 22 turnovers leading to 19 points, including 16 fast-break points.  Sage won the rebound battle, 41-34, and had a 14-6 advantage in second chance points.

DeSales is right back to action on Monday when they travel to Gwynedd-Mercy University for another non-conference game beginning at 7:00 pm.