Brunswick, ME (March 8, 2019) - The #10/15 DeSales University women's basketball team saw its NCAA Tournament run come to an end falling to Ithaca College, 76-75, on a running lay-up with six seconds left in the Round of 16 on Friday evening.

The Basics

• Final Score: Ithaca - 76, DeSales - 75
• Records: DeSales (27-3); Ithaca (25-5)
• The Bulldogs finish the season with a school-record tying 27 wins.
• It is DSU's second trip to the Sweet 16 since the brackets were expanded.

How it Happened

• The first quarter was a fast paced back-and forth affair that saw Ithaca lead by as many as seven points before DSU the margin down to four points (24-20) after 10 minutes of play.
• The Bombers led by 13 points with 5:17 to go in the second quarter before DeSales rallied finishing the quarter on an 8-2 run to get within seven (44-37) at the break.
• The third quarter was all DeSales as they out-scored Ithaca, 21-10, to take a 58-54 lead.
• DSU finshed the quarter on a 19-5 run and had 13-1 run over the final 5:57 of the quarter as freshman Samantha Shinkus converted a three-point play with 34 seconds left to give the Bulldogs their four-point cushion.
• Leading by one early in the fourth (60-59) DeSales used an 8-1 run to take a 68-60 lead and continued to lead by eight after a three from freshman Averi Jordan with 3:57 left to play.
• The Bombers cut it down to a four-point lead when DSU missed two golden opportunities to extend the advantage missing two free throws and coming up empty on a 2-on-1 fast break as Ithaca took advantage hitting a transition 3 with 1:10 to go making it one point game (73-72).
• After a miss on the other end, IC's Annie Giannone was fouled with 47 seconds left and she hit both free throws giving Ithaca a one-point lead.
• A turnover by the Bulldogs and two missed freebies from Giannone gave DSU the ball back down one with 25 seconds left.
• Out of the timeout, Jordan drove the lane, missed a contested lay-up but got her own rebound and scored on the putback giving DeSales a 75-74 lead with 13.6 seconds left.
• Ithaca called timeout and out of the huddle, Giannone got the ball, drove right and scored on a running lay-up with six seconds left.
• DSU inbounded the ball immediately and Shinkus drove the length of the court but her lay-up attempt was blocked out of bounds as time expired one point short of an Elite 8 appearance.

Top Bulldog Performers

• Senior Bridget Walsh had a terrific final game of her career totaling 19 points and seven rebounds.
• Senior Morgan Birmelin was also outstanding with 18 points and six assists.
• Shinkus and Jordan each had 11 points with Jordan pulling down a double-double with a game-high 12 rebounds.
• Freshman Emma Stanfield finished with nine points off the bench.

For the Foes

• Giannone led Ithaca with 19 points and Cassidy O'Malley tied Giannone with 19 points in the win.
• Kellyann O'Reiily finished with 12 points and Meghan Pickell had 11 points.

Inside the Box Score

• DeSales dominated the paint out-scoring Ithaca, 36-14, inside the lane and out-rebounded the Bombers, 40-32.
• Ithaca shot 55.6 percent (10-for-18) from outside the arc for the game.
• DSU was terrific from the free throw line hitting 87.0 percent (20-for-23) from the charity stripe.