Allentown, PA (November 14, 2023) - The #14 DeSales University women's basketball team dropped its season opener at local rival Muhlenberg College, 44-41, on Tuesday evening.

The Basics

• Final Score: Muhlenberg - 44, DeSales - 41
• Records: #14 DeSales (0-1 Overall); Muhlenberg (3-0 Overall)
• This was the 52nd career meeting between the two teams with DSU now holding a 31-21 lead in the all-time series.

How it Happened

• DSU scored the first five points of the game and never trailed in the opening quarter, leading 17-9 after 10 minutes of play.
• Senior Lindsey Welsh scored the first bucket of the second quarter making it a 10-point game before DSU went cold, scoring just two more points the rest of the half as the game was tied at 21 entering the halftime locker room.
• The Bulldogs reclaimed the lead on a 3 from Welsh to start the second-half and once again led the entire third quarter extending its margin to six points (35-29) before settling for a 35-31 lead at the end of three quarters.
• DeSales once again went ice cold in the fourth quarter shooting 1-for-20 over the final 10 minutes of the game.
• Despite the cold shooting, the Bulldogs had chances to win the game. Senior Olivia Scotti tied the game at at 40 with a three and one free throw on the next possession, but a DeSales foul with 1:31 left put the Mules at the line where they converted two free throws.
• Senior Megan Bealer earned two charity tosses on the next possession but made just 1-of-2.
• DSU got a stop on the other end and had possession down one with 13 seconds left.
• Out of the time the Bulldogs turned it over and were forced to foul where MC knocked down two free throws and two desperation 3's on the other end were off the mark.

Top Bulldog Performers

• Welsh led DSU with 14 points, shooting 6-for-10 from the field and adding seven rebounds.
• Bealer also reached double figures with 10 points, eight rebounds, and four steals.
• Senior Mikaela Reese had 10 rebounds.

For the Foes

• Rachel Saxton had 13 points and Ava Connolly added 12 points for the Mules.
• Jenna Stockfeder pulled down a game-high 12 rebounds.

Inside the Box Score

• Neither team shot well as DeSales finished the game shooting 24.2 percent and just 16.0 percent over the final three quarters.
• Muhlenberg shot just 28.8 percent from the field.

Up Next

• DSU is right back to action over the weekend traveling to the Susquehanna University Tournament taking on St. Elizabeth in the opener on Saturday at 8:00 pm.