Women's Basketball

DeSales University 84, Delaware Valley College 55


DOYLESTOWN (PA) - DeSales University outscored host Delaware Valley College, 46-22, in the second half as the Bulldogs clinched a Freedom Conference playoff spot with an 84-55 victory.

With the win, DeSales improved to 20-3 overall, 9-1 and first place in the conference and wrapped up a postseason berth for the 11th straight year. The loss dropped the Aggies to 11-11 overall and 6-4 in the league. They fell into third place behind DeSales and FDU-Florham (6-3). King's (5-4) and Arcadia (4-5) follow with the top four teams qualifying for the Freedom playoffs.

The first half was a back and forth affair that featured six ties and 10 lead changes. The last tie was at 31-31 when Delaware Valley's Brooke Dittmar hit a layup with 2:06 remaining. DeSales then scored seven of the last nine points, including five by Megan Montchyk, to take a 38-33 advantage into the intermission.

However, it was all Bulldogs in the final 20 minutes as they shot 56.3 percent from the field and held the Aggies to a 6-for-24 effort (25.0%). DeSales scored the first six points of the half but Delaware Valley got back to within seven at 47-40 with 13:05 remaining. The Bulldogs countered with 12 straight and 21 of 23 for a commanding, 68-42 advantage with 7:08 to go. Leigh Ann Burke led the run with nine points.

Burke finished with a game-high 20 points. Kim Rarick added 19 points while Montchyk came off the bench to pour in 10.

Moira Donohue paced the Aggies with 19 points while Brittany Battinieri and Jen McCarthy followed with nine and seven points respectively.