Center Valley, PA (February 4, 2017) - The DeSales University women's basketball team erased a 14-point second-half deficit and led by three points with less than a minute left before dropping an 84-81 decision to FDU-Florham in MAC Freedom action on Saturday afternoon in Billera Hall.

Senior Megan Baird had a career day in the loss, finishing with a game-high 27 points on 6-of-7 shooting from outside the arc, while senior Morgan McCollian had nine points and 12 boards and sophomore Leandra Sterner totaled nine points for the Bulldogs (16-5, 8-2 MAC Freedom).  Sophomore Morgan Birmelin and senior Nikki Callahan each had seven assists.

FDU-Florham (18-3, 9-1 MAC Freedom) got a herculean effort from senior Alyssa McDonough who finished with 26 points, including a 14-for-14 effort from the free throw line, 12 rebounds, and five assists.  Fellow senior Rachel Groom added 22 points and 10 rebounds and freshman Kendrea Williams finished with 21 points.  Kayla Croswell pulled down 13 rebounds in the win.

The Devils scored the first six points out of the halftime locker room to take their largest lead of the game (14 points) at 53-39 and still led by double digits (64-53) at the end of three quarters of play.

A three-pointer from Baird and a Birmelin layup quickly pushed the deficit down to six just 1:03 into the fourth quarter.  DSU still trailed by six (71-65) with 6:33 to go when another Baird three ignited a 10-2 run capped off by a triple from junior Kaitlin Kelly in the right corner giving the Bulldogs their first second-half advantage (75-73) with 4:09 remaining.

Both teams went cold over the next several possessions before McDonough broke the streak with a lay-up tying the game but Kelly immediately answered with another trey pushing DSU up three (78-75) with 2:35 left.

Two McDonough free throws made it a one-point game at the 2:23 mark as both teams came up empty on five straight possessions as DSU called timeout with the ball and 1:01 left to play.  Out of the timeout, McCollian scored in the low post and was fouled but missed the extra free throw keeping it a one-possession game (80-77) in favor of DeSales with 48 seconds left.

Williams scored in the paint on FDU's trip down the floor and Callahan was fouled on the inbounds after a timeout.  Callahan made just 1-of-2 free throws giving DSU a two-point lead (81-79) with 24 ticks left.

McDonough drove the lane on the next possession and converted a layup plus the foul and hit the free throw to give FDU an 82-81 lead.  On the ensuing possession, Baird fed McCollian in the post before just as the ball arrived to McCollian, McDonough streaked over from the weak side and stole the pass and was fouled with 3.4 seconds left.

She knocked down both freebies to make it a three-point game.  Callahan threw the ball to half court where McCollian was wide open as she turned and found Kelly on the right wing and her tying three-pointer was off the back board and front rim as time expired.

DeSales had control early opening up a 16-8 lead and led 25-21 after one quarter.  The lead was six at the start of the second quarter before an 11-0 run gave FDU a five-point lead and the Devils led by seven at the halftime break.

The Bulldogs finished the game shooting 42.6 percent from the field but were doomed at the foul line hitting just 14-for-25 (56%) as compared to the Devils converting 32-of-36 (88.9%) from the charity stripe.  DSU took excellent care of the ball committing just 12 turnovers and forced FDU into 24 miscues leading to 21 points.  FDU dominated the glass out-rebounding the Bulldogs 52-28 for the game.  The DeSales bench out-scored FDU's, 50-9, for the game.

The Bulldogs are back in action on Wednesday when they travel to Wilkes University for another MAC Freedom game set to tip at 6:00 pm.