Las Vegas, NV --- Colleen Gavin (Quakertown, PA) scored a game-high 17 points while collecting ten rebounds and five steals in leading DeSales to a 69-61 win over WPI in Women's Basketball action at the 2011 D3hoops.com Classic in Las Vegas, Nevada on Wednesday.

The Bulldogs of DeSales run their record to 6-5 on the season while the Engineers of WPI fall to 3-7.

WPI took a 4-2 lead on a layup by Theresa Logan (Southboro, MA) just over two minutes into the game. But DeSales would respond with a 12-3 run capped off by a free throw from Faith Gilbert (Windsor, CT) and would never trail after that.

The Crimson and Gray did make it interesting after trailing by as many as 20 points early in the second half.  WPI used a 7-0 spurt midway through the second stanza to slice the lead to seven and then got as close as three on a Kelly Morgan (Brookline, NH) jumper with 4:37 to go.  DeSales answer back with four straight points over the next minute.  The Engineers were able to draw within four with 37 seconds remaining but the Bulldogs canned four free throws in the final 15 seconds to secure the victory.

Gilbert finished with 15 points, four rebounds, three assists and two steals. Cherelle Simmons(Lancaster, PA) anchored the defense, scoring 13 points and hauling down six boards while piling up a game-high three blocks. Sondrine Glovas (Easton, PA) added nine points, four rebounds and three steals.

WPI was led by Dani Davis (East Granby, CT) and Siena Mamayek (Melrose, MA) who each scored 13 points for the Engineers. Mamayek also pulled down seven rebounds. Morgan finished with ten points, four rebounds and two blocks. Logan added nine points and eight rebounds.

WPI continues play in the D3hoops.com Classic on Thursday, tangling with defending national champion and top-ranked Amherst at 4pm eastern time.  DeSales, who lost to Carthage 57-51 in its earlier game in the tournament, heads to New York City on Tuesday, January 3rd to face Baruch.  Game time is slated for 6pm.