The Bulldogs (16-7, 8-4 Freedom) led almost the entire way taking a 15-point first-half lead on a three-pointer from junior Jenna Stampf at the 3:16 mark before settling for a seven-point halftime lead, 32-25, as the Lady Warriors (71-6, 2-10 Freedom) ended the half on an 8-0 run.
LC pulled to within five twice early in the second half before an 8-0 run, including three-pointers from Burke and freshman Kaila Wiand, pushed the lead 13 points with 13:15 on the clock.
The Lady Warriors kept chipping away at the lead over the next five minutes and pulled to within seven twice but the Bulldogs eventually pulled away with sophomore Kim Rarick and senior Kirby Lutz combining to hit 6-of-6 from the free throw line to push the lead back to 15 points.
Burke collected her 23 points on 10-of-16 shooting and also grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and dished out five assists. Rarick finished with 16 points including an 8-for-8 effort from the free throw line and Lutz totaled 14 points. Freshman Caitlin Miller totaled seven points and six rebounds off the bench.
Lycoming was led by Rebecca Leid with a team-high 16 points. Amanda Clouse totaled 11 points and Michelle Wisla added 10 tallies off the bench.
The Bulldogs return to action on Tuesday, February 13th when they host Delaware Valley College in a Freedom Conference game beginning at 6:00 pm. DSU is currently tied for second place with King’s College in the Freedom Conference after the King’s loss at Drew this afternoon. DeSales can still earn a first round home playoff game with two wins in each of its last two games next week.
DESALES UNIVERSITY 74, LYCOMING COLLEGE 58 DESALES UNIVERSITY (16-7, 8-4 Conf.) LeighAnn Burke 10-16 1-2 23; Kim Rarick 4-7 8-8 16; Kirby Lutz 5-17 4-7 14; Caitlin Miller 3-4 1-2 7; Kaila Wiand 1-4 1-4 4; Jenna Stampf 1-1 0-1 3; Erica Sovak 1-3 1-2 3; Amanda Kuperavage 0-4 2-2 2; Lindsey Sykes 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 26-57 18-28 74. LYCOMING COLLEGE (7-16, 2-10 Conf.) Rebecca Leid 5-10 6-8 16; Amanda Clouse 4-9 2-4 11; Michelle Wisla 4-6 2-2 10; Brittany Knopp 2-6 2-2 7; Jessica Zerbee 0-5 4-4 4; Allison Mock 1-4 0-0 3; Allison Palubinsky 1-2 0-0 2; Andrea Cooper 1-5 0-0 2; Amanda Hart 1-3 0-0 2; Jessica Nabholz 0-2 1-2 1; Alicia Engler 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 19-53 17-22 58. DeSales University............ 32 42 - 74 Lycoming College.............. 25 33 - 58 3-point goals-DeSales 4-12 (LeighAnn Burke 2-5; Kaila Wiand 1-3; Jenna Stampf 1-1; Erica Sovak 0-1; Kirby Lutz 0-1; Kim Rarick 0-1), Lycoming 3-16 (Amanda Clouse 1-1; Allison Mock 1-3; Brittany Knopp 1-2; Andrea Cooper 0-2; Amanda Hart 0-1; Jessica Nabholz 0-1; Jessica Zerbee 0-3; Rebecca Leid 0-3). Rebounds-DeSales 36 (LeighAnn Burke 6; Caitlin Miller 6), Lycoming 37 (Andrea Cooper 5). Assists-DeSales 20 (Lindsey Sykes 6), Lycoming 12 (Jessica Zerbee 4).