Basketball

AGGIES ELIMINATED FROM FREEDOM CONFERENCE PLAYOFFS WITH 61-48 LOSS AT DESALES

CENTER VALLEY (PA) - DeSales University went on an 18-3 run in the second half as the second-seeded Lady Bulldogs advanced to the Freedom Conference Championship Game with a 61-48 victory over third-seeded Delaware Valley College.

The Aggies fell to 17-9 on the season and will now await word as to whether or not they will earn a berth to the Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) Southern Region Championships. The eight team field will be announced on Monday.

DeSales (16-10) will travel to the number two ranked team in Division III, The University of Scranton, on Saturday with the winner earning an automatic berth to the NCAA Division III playoffs. Scranton advanced with a 70-51 home victory over fourth-seeded King's College.

Delaware Valley started fast as the Aggies scored the first 10 points of the contest as Moira Donohue and Rachel Joyce netted five apiece. Donohue opened with a steal and a layup and Joyce followed with a 3-pointer for a 5-0 lead. Donohue then nailed a trey and Joyce followed with a jumper for the early advantage.

Delaware Valley led by as many as 11 in the first half, but the Lady Bulldogs battled back and made it a three-point game, 26-23, at the intermission as LeighAnn Burke drained a long 3-pointer at the buzzer.

The Aggies opened the second stanza with five straight points as Joyce hit a pair of free throws and McGowan hit a layup and one of two free throws for a 31-23 advantage with 16:27 remaining.

However, McGowan's layup, which came with 17:21 to go, was the last field goal Delaware Valley hit for the next nine minutes before a Kristin Bone follow of her own miss with 8:28 remaining. By that time, DeSales had scored 13 of 14 points and they extended the run to 18-3 shortly after for a 49-38 lead with 4:26 to go. The Aggies never got closer than eight points the rest of the way.

Both teams struggled from the field with Delaware Valley shooting 23.2 percent, including a 3-for-27 effort (11.1%) in the second stanza. DeSales shot 22.6 percent in the first 20 minutes and finished 18-for-58 (31.0%).

Joyce paced the Aggies with 12 points while Donhoue finished with 10 points and eight rebounds. Jennifer McCarthy added eight points off the bench.

Burke, the Freedom Conference Rookie of the Year, led all players with 23 points and five assists, including 16 points in the second half. Amanda Kuperavage and Kim Rarick finished with 12 and 10 points respectively.