Dallas, PA (February 22, 2017) – Sophomores Morgan Birmelin and Leandra Sterner combined for 53 points leading the DeSales University women's basketball team past Misericordia University, 84-81, in a double overtime instant classic in the MAC Freedom semifinals on Wednesday evening in the Anderson Center.
The Bulldogs (20-6) advance to the MAC Freedom title game for the second straight year and the third time in the last four seasons. DSU will travel to top seeded FDU-Florham with tip set for 1:00 pm. It is also the third time in the last four seasons the Bulldogs have won 20+ games and the 14th time under head coach Fred Richter.
Sterner finished with a game and career-high 28 points, shooting 11-of-21 from the field, hitting five 3's. Birmelin was outstanding scoring a career-high 25 points and adding six assists, with just one turnover, and a career-high nine steals.
Senior Morgan McCollian added 12 points and seven rebounds and senior Nikki Callahan was sensational with six points, seven rebounds, eight assists, and three steals.
The Cougars (19-7) also got some herculean efforts in the loss including 20 points from Shannon Croasdale, 18 points from Jaclyn Hajec, and double-doubles from both Rachel Carmody (13 points, 14 rebounds) and Justine Seely (16 points, 15 rebounds).
The Bulldogs completely dominated the first-half scoring the first 10 points of the game and leading by 12 points (21-9) after one quarter. The lead swelled to as many as 20 points midway thru the second quarter before DSU held a 37-22 lead at the halftime break.
Sterner led DeSales with 13 first-half points, while McCollian added nine and Birmelin eight.
Misericordia opened the third quarter quickly scoring the first seven points to make it an 8-point game and still trailed by eight with 35 seconds left in the third quarter hitting three free throws over the final 16 seconds to make it a five-point game entering the final quarter.
A Birmelin three at the 6:24 mark of the final quarter was answered by the Cougars with a 7-0 run as they took their first lead of the game (60-58) with 3:05 to go.
Sterner quickly tied the game on a lay-up on DSU's next possession as the game remained tied until the one minute mark when Sterner hit another 3 giving the Bulldogs a 63-60 lead.
A Carmody lay-up made it a one-point game and McCollian was fouled on the other end. She made 1-of-2 giving DSU a 2-point advantage with 30 seconds left. McCollian blocked a Carmody layup out of bounds but Seely scored on the ensuing inbounds pass with 12 seconds left and after advancing the ball after a timeout two contested layups from McCollian and freshman Molly Jansco were off the mark sending the game into overtime.
A Seely three-point play started overtime but six straight free throws from DeSales gave the Bulldogs a 70-67 lead with 1:12 to go. Another Seely layup cut the margin down to one with 44 seconds left and a Birmelin layup was off the mark on the other end. Carmody was fouled with 14 seconds left but she only made 1-of-2 freebies and a last second off balance layup from sophomore Bridget Walsh was long as the game went into a second overtime.
Sterner opened the second extra period with a three and Birmelin followed with four straight free throws to give DSU a 77-70 lead. After trading baskets, Birmelin made two more free throws with 56 seconds left to make it a nine-point game.
Misericordia was not done though. A three from Japriya Carroll, followed by a DeSales turnover and another three from Hajec quickly made it a 3-point game with 38 seconds left.
Sterner was fouled on the ensuing possession but made just 1-of-2 free throws and Hajec made another long three cutting the margin down to one point (82-81) with 11 seconds left.
MU fouled Callahan on the inbounds pass and she clutchly knocked down both free throws making it a three-point game and long 3 at the buzzer was well long as DeSales escaped with the thrilling win.
DSU was terrific from the free throw line hitting 18-of-20 freebies and scored 29 points off 23 Cougar turnovers. The Bulldogs also overcame 10 three-pointers, nine in the second-half and overtime from Misericordia in the win.