Madison, NJ (February 3, 2018) - The DeSales University women's basketball team was out-scored 25-12 in the third quarter falling at FDU-Florham, 72-60, in MAC Freedom action on Saturday afternoon.

Junior Morgan Birmelin (Honesdale, PA) led the Bulldogs (11-10, 6-4 MAC Freedom) with a season-high 21 points and added seven assists and five steals in the loss.  Junior Leandra Sterner (Northampton, PA) added 19 points and pulled down seven rebounds.

FDU-Florham (15-6, 8-2 MAC Freedom) got 24 points each from Bria Smith and Gabrielle Harris in the win with Smith pulling down a game-high 16 rebounds.  Kendrea Williams finished with 12 points in the win.

DeSales led throughout most of the first-half including a 20-15 after one quarter and by as many as eight (30-22) in the second quarter before the Devils closed the half on a 10-3 run as the Bulldogs clung to a one-point advantage (33-32) heading into the locker room.

DSU trailed by four (47-43) late in the third quarter after two free throws from sophomore Jenn Abraham (Hummelstown, PA) when FDU closed the quarter on a 10-2 run to open up a 12-point advantage (57-43).

DeSales cut the margin down to nine points several times over the final 10 minutes but were never able to get any closer in the loss.

After shooting 43.3 percent in the opening half, DSU converted just 28.6 percent in the second-half from the field.  The Bulldogs did force FDU into 23 turnovers, but committed 21 of their own.  Florham controlled the glass, out-rebounding DeSales, 48-43, and holding a 44-30 lead in points scored in the paint.

The Bulldogs are back in action on Wednesday when they return home to host Wilkes University for a MAC Freedom game beginning at 6:00 pm.