Gwynedd-Valley, PA (November 9, 2024) - The DeSales University women's basketball finished with a 9-4 run leading to a 70-66 win over Gwynedd-Mercy University to win the GMU Tipoff Tournament Championship on Saturday afternoon.

The Basics

• Final Score: DeSales - 70, Gwynedd-Mercy - 66
• Records: DeSales (2-0 Overall); Gwynedd-Mercy (1-1 Overall)
• This was DSU's 10th straight win over the Griffins moving DeSales' all-time record in the series to 33-2.

How it Happened

• GMU led by two (19-17) after a high scoring first-quarter.
• The Bulldogs turned up the defensive dial to start the second quarter holding the Griffins scoreless over the first 5:05 en route to a 9-0 run and a 26-19 lead.
• DSU finished the quarter out-scoring Gwynedd by 10 to take a 35-27 halftime lead.
• The lead was nine late in the third quarter before the Griffins used an 8-2 run to get within three points at the end of the quarter.
• DSU led by four after a triple from junior Mikaili Donmoyer at the 4:30 mark until Gwynedd-Mercy scored five straight points to take its first lead of the second-half, 62-61, with 3:08 remaining.
• First-year Alexis Berger answered with a three of her own to give DeSales a 64-62 lead and junior Sammi White scored on the next possession after a Griffin turnover to make it 66-62 with 2:06 to go.
• GMU scored on its next possession and got a steal and a chance to tie but a missed layup was rebounded by first-year Kayla Ishigami and she calmly knocked down two big free throws with 1:00 remaining to give DSU a 68-64 advantage.
• It was a five-point game after another Bulldog stop and one Donmoyer free throw with 34 ticks left before the final was posted on a late layup from the Griffins.

Top Bulldog Performers

• Senior Morgan Sterner led the way again with 19 points, hitting four 3's.
• Donmoyer finished with 12 points and six rebounds.
• White added eight points, 10 rebounds, and four blocked shots.
• Ishigami came off the bench to score 15 points and fellow first-year Marissa LaVerghetta finished with six points, four rebounds, four assists, four steals, and two blocked shots.

For the Foes

• Alexis Eagan had a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
• Angelina Balcer and Erin Eisenhart each had 10 points.

Inside the Box Score

• The Bulldogs shot 39.7 percent from the field.
• DSU hit 10-for-23 (43.5 percent) from outside the arc.
• The Bulldogs scored 26 points off 17 Griffin turnovers.

Up Next

• DeSales is back in action on Tuesday when they host Messiah University in another non-conference game beginning at 7:30 pm.