The Bulldogs (15-7, 7-4 Freedom) drop its third straight game and fall to the Devils (9-13, 3-8 Freedom) for the first time in its history. DSU had entered the game with a 22-0 all-time record vs. FDU-Florham and were 11-0 all-time in Billera Hall.
The game was a back and forth affair in the opening half as the Bulldogs clung to a one point halftime lead, 35-34. DSU seemed to gain control early in the second half as a quick 7-0 run pushed a two-point lead into a nine-point advantage, 46-37, with 15:40 on the clock.
DSU continued to lead by eight with just under 13 minutes remaining when a quick 7-0 Devil run, capped by a Cerankowski triple, made it a one-point game at the 10 minute mark. A 7-2 run by DSU pushed the lead back to six points on a three-pointer from freshman Kaila Wiand when the Devils began its final charge.
Trailing by five with 5:15 on the clock Courtney Young hit a baseline jumper to make it 58-55. Wiand countered with her fourth three-pointer of the game to push the lead back to four points but Cerankowski was fouled on a drive into the lane and hit both free throws. Wiand missed a trey on the other end but senior Kirby Lutz was fouled on the rebound but she missed the front end of a 1-and-1 and Danielle Michlovsky was fouled while grabbing the defensive board. Michlovsky knocked down both freebies to tie the game at 61 with 3:24 to play.
After DSU failed to convert on the offensive end, Cerankowski took over for FDU hitting off-balance jumpers on three consecutive possessions as DSU had no answer for her on the defensive side of the ball. FDU led by four, 67-63 with 1:33 to go when sophomore LeighAnn Burke hit a running one-hander in the lane to cut the margin down to two points. DSU forced a turnover and had a chance to tie the game but the Bulldogs turned it over and were forced to foul with 25 seconds left.
Kate Daly went to the line for a 1-and-1 and missed the front end but two Bulldogs collided on the rebound and Michlovsky grabbed the loose ball and laid it in to make it 69-65. Burke hit another jumper to cut the margin down to two once again and the Bulldogs fouled Cerankowski on the ensuing inbounds pass. Cerankowski calmly knocked down both free throws to give FDU a two-possession lead as time ran out on DeSales.
The Devils shot 51.0 percent from the field and 76.2 percent from the free throw line, while the Bulldogs canned just 42.9 percent of its attempts and shot just 54.5 percent (12-of-22) from the charity stripe.
Lutz had an outstanding game despite the loss recording her sixth double-double of the season with 24 points and 10 rebounds, while also dishing out a career-high six assists and making four steals. Wiand and Burke also reached double digits with Wiand totaling 12 on four three-pointers and Burke finishing with 10.
Cerankowsky shot 9-of-17 from the field, made 3-of-5 three-point attempts and was 10-for-11 from the free throw line in recording her game-high 31 points. Michlovsky recorded a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds and Kehoe rounded out the double digit scoring with 11.
FDU-FLORHAM 71, DESALES UNIVERSITY 67 FDU-FLORHAM (9-13, 3-8 Conf.) Emily Cerankowski 9-17 10-11 31; Danielle Michlovsky 4-7 3-3 11; Maureen Kehoe 5-7 1-1 11; Courtney Young 3-3 0-0 6; Kate Daly 2-5 0-1 4; Jessie Chalmers 1-8 1-1 3; Shannon Smith 1-2 1-4 3; Kim Molaskey 1-1 0-0 2; Lara Hirshenson 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 26-51 16-21 71. DESALES UNIVERSITY (15-7, 7-4 Conf.) Kirby Lutz 8-20 7-13 24; Kaila Wiand 4-7 0-0 12; LeighAnn Burke 4-12 0-0 10; Caitlin Miller 2-2 2-3 6; Amanda Kuperavage 3-5 0-0 6; Kim Rarick 2-3 1-2 5; Erica Sovak 1-4 0-0 2; Jenna Stampf 0-1 1-2 1; Lindsey Sykes 0-1 1-2 1; Kelly Magrann 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 24-56 12-22 67. FDU-Florham................... 34 37 - 71 DeSales University............ 35 32 - 67 3-point goals-FDU-Florham 3-12 (Emily Cerankowski 3-5; Kate Daly 0-3; Jessie Chalmers 0-4), DeSales 7-17 (Kaila Wiand 4-6; LeighAnn Burke 2-8; Kirby Lutz 1-1; Erica Sovak 0-1; Kelly Magrann 0-1). Rebounds-FDU-Florham 32 (Danielle Michlovsky 12), DeSales 30 (Kirby Lutz 10). Assists-FDU-Florham 15 (Kate Daly 7), DeSales 16 (Kirby Lutz 6).