Bronx, NY (December 29, 2018) - For the fourth time this season the DeSales University women's basketball team has knocked off an unbeaten team handing Trinity College (CT) a 70-66 loss in the championship game of the Coaches vs. Cancer Tournament at Lehman College on Saturday afternoon.

The Basics

• Final Score: DeSales - 70, Trinity (CT) - 66
• Records: DeSales (10-2); Trinity (CT) (9-1)

How it Happened

• This game was a battle all 40 minutes as neither team led by more than seven in the game and the contest featured five ties and 11 lead changes throughout.
• DeSales had a mini 7-0 run in the first quarter turning a two-point deficit into a 20-18 lead after one quarter.
• After Trinity (CT) tied the game early in the second quarter, DeSales never trailed the rest of the way, leading by as many as seven points (31-24) before TC scored the final four points of the half to trail by just two (37-35) at the break.
• Much like the second quarter, Trinity took an early one-point lead in the third quarter before the Bulldogs took control leading by seven points on three different occassions and held a 55-49 advantage after three quarters of play.
• Trinity started the fourth quarter on a 9-2 run to take a 58-57 lead before both teams went scoreless over the next two minutes.
• Tied at 61, the Bulldogs got a layup from senior Bridget Walsh and a short jumper from fellow senior Morgan Birmelin to take a 65-61 lead with 2:25 to go.
• After a few defensive stops, freshman Emma Stanfield was fouled on a defensive rebound and calmly hit both freebies giving DSU a six-point cushion with 40 seconds left.
• Trinity scored quickly and got a turnover and three-point play in 8.5 seconds to cut the margin from six points to just one with 31.5 seconds left.
• Sophomore Isabel Caruso was fouled with 18 seconds left and knocked down two huge charity tosses and the Bulldogs played terrific defense on the other end forcing a long three that was airballed and Birmelin finished off the win with 1-of-2 from the line to post the final tally.

Top Bulldog Performers

• Birmelin earned Tournament Most Valuable Player honors scoring 21 points and adding seven assists in the championship game win.
• Freshman Averi Jordan totaled 13 points in the win on Saturday and senior Leandra Sterner also earned All-Tournament Team honors with 10 points on Saturday.
• Walsh finished with eight points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks in the win.

For the Foes

• Trinity got 16 points from Becky Reifler and 10 tallies from Courtney Erickson.
• Erin Cunningham finished with seven points and 13 rebounds.

Inside the Box Score

• DeSales held Trinity to just 32.2 percent shooting and hit 40.6 percent from the field on the offensive end.
• The Bulldogs had a slim 44-42 advantage on the glass.
• DSU hit just 2-for-15 from outside the arc.

Up Next

• The Bulldogs get the week off and will return to action on Saturday when they host Cabrini University in a non-conference game beginning at 1:00 pm.