Basketball

DeSales University 81, Delaware Valley 62
Aggies Clinch Playoff Spot Despite Loss

DOYLESTOWN (PA) - The DeSales University basketball led from start to finish and clinched a Freedom Conference playoff berth with an 81-62 victory over Delaware Valley College.

Despite the loss, the Aggies still clinched a conference playoff spot for the fifth time in the last six years as FDU-Florham routed Drew, 69-40. Delaware Valley is now in third place with a 16-8 overall record and an 8-5 mark in conference play. The Aggies travel to Lycoming on Saturday for the regular-season finale.

Meanwhile, the win improved the Lady Bulldogs to 15-9 overall, 9-4 and sole possession of second place in the conference. DeSales, which swept Delaware Valley this season, can clinch second and a first round home playoff game with either a victory at nationally-ranked Scranton on Saturday or a loss by King's in either of its last two games. The top four teams qualify for the Freedom Conference playoffs which begin on Wednesday, February 22.

The Lady Bulldogs came out firing on the road and scored the first nine points of the game, including seven by Kirby Lutz. They built the lead to as many as 16 in the first half and still held a 14-point advantage when the Aggies used a 7-0 run, including four by Brooke Dittmar, to make it 31-24 with 4:59 to go before intermission.

However, Jenna Stampf responded with a three-point play on DeSales' next possession and the Lady Bulldogs went on to a 44-31 halftime lead. Delaware Valley never got closer than 11 points in the second stanza.

DeSales got to the foul line 33 times, compared to 18 by the Aggies, and held a 53-39 advantage on the boards. Lutz led the way with 20 points while Kim Rarick added 16. Aman Kuperavage chipped in with 12 points while LeighAnn Burke and Erica Sovak netted 11 apiece.

Senior Kate McCarthy led the Aggies with 14 points in her final regular-season home game. Dittmar notched a double-double with 12 points and 11 rebounds while Rachel Joyce and Moira Donohue had 11 and 10 points respectively.