Center Valley, PA (January 20, 2018) - For the third straight time in the series the DeSales University women's basketball team battled Misericordia University into overtime, falling to the Cougars, 74-67, in the first of two regular season meetings this season on Saturday afternoon in MAC Freedom action.

DeSales (9-8, 4-2 MAC Freedom) had a chance to win this one in regulation at the foul line down one and with sophomore Molly Jansco (Newfoundland, PA) at the foul line with 5.9 seconds left.  She calmly hit nothing but net on the first one to tie the game but the second was off the back iron.  A steal on the ensuing outlet pass by freshman Isabel Caruso (Gibbsboro, NJ) also could have ended the game but she lost her layup attempt on the way up as the ball went out of bounds and time expired in regulation in the backcourt on the next inbounds.

In the OT period the two teams traded a three and a three-point play to start the extra session before MU used an 8-1 run over the next 3:34 to take a 68-61 lead.  DSU cut it down to five points several times but the Cougars iced the win from the charity stripe hitting 12-for-15 in the extra session.

Misericordia led for just over 40 minutes of game time in this one taking control early, racing out to an 11-4 lead in the first four minutes of the game.  DSU trailed by 12 points late in the second quarter when it finished the half on a methodical 10-1 run led by its defense to trail by just three points (28-25) at the break.

The Cougars again started strong in the second-half opening up a 13-point lead over the first 3:23.  The lead remained 12 at the 4:22 mark when DSU finished the quarter on a 7-0 run to pull within five points.  A three from senior Kaitlin Kelly (Newtown, PA), her first of the game, pulled the Bulldogs within two at the 6:18 mark of the final quarter and two free throws from Jansco tied the game at 49.

DeSales eventually took its first lead since early in the game (4-3) on another three from Kelly, this one banking home from the left wing, and the game was tied at 54 with 2:39 to play.  MU's Rachel Carmody hit her first three of the season at the 1:12 mark to give the Cougars a 57-54 lead but a lay-up from Jansco pulled DSU within one with 50 seconds left.

After a timeout, junior Morgan Birmelin (Honesdale, PA) came up a steal giving DSU possession and Jansco was fouled with 5.9 seconds left setting up the final moments and overtime.

Jansco was terrific once again totaling a career-high 23 points and grabbing seven rebounds.  Birmelin finished with 13 points, seven assists, seven rebounds, and six steals, while junior Leandra Sterner (Northampton, PA) totaled 12 points.  Junior Bridget Walsh (Dunmore, PA) had eight points, 10 rebounds, and six blocked shots in the loss.

MU got a game-high 24 points from Japriya Carroll, who was a perfect 5-for-5 from outside the arc and pulled down nine rebounds.  Paige Wampole finished with 20 points and 20 rebounds, Quintessa Zamolyi had 14 points and 10 boards, and Carmosy also recorded a double-double with 10 points and 11 caroms.

Misericordia dominated the glass, out-rebounding DeSales, 60-35, while DSU forced 27 COugar turnovers as compared to just 13 for the Bulldogs.  DSU finished the game shooting 38.0 percent from the field, but just 3-for-15 from outside the arc, while MU hit 9-for-18 from deep.

The Bulldogs are right back to action on Wednesday when they travel to King's College for another MAC Freedom game set to begin at 8:00 pm.