DeSales coach Fred Richter earned win No. 400 in grand fashion on
Thursday night as the DeSales women's basketball team shot 45.7
percent and rolled past Albright 91-59, in a non-conference game in
Billera Hall.
Richter is the 36th coach in NCAA Division III women's basketball history to win 400 career games and is just the second coach in DeSales history (joining baseball coach Tim Neiman) to earn 400-plus wins. He is now 400-171 (.700) in 21 years of coaching at DeSales.
The Bulldogs shot better than 40 percent for just the third time in the last 16 games and just the fifth time all season in the win. Leading the way was senior Lori Lidlow with a game and season-high tying 22 points to go along with five steals. Freshman Sondrine Glovas also had a season-high with 18 points on 7-of-9 shooting, while fellow freshman Faith Gilbert got in on the fun also setting a new season-high with 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting off the bench.
Sophomore Colleen Gavin recorded her second double-double of the season with 12 points and 12 rebounds and senior Megan Montchyk added nine points and four assists to round out the scoring leaders.
Albright had just one player in double digits, Meghan Boyle with 13 points on 5-of-6 shooting.
DeSales controlled this game from the very beginning opening up a 21-4 lead over the first six minutes with Lidlow doing most of the damage with 11 points during the run. Albright rallied to get within seven points once but two straight buckets and a three from Gilbert extended the lead up to 14 points and reached as many as 20 in the opening half before the Bulldogs settled for the 47-28 halftime edge.
In the second half the Bulldogs led by as many as 38 points (91-53) and continued their hot shooting, while the Lions were never able to get back into the game. DSU (11-7 overall) forced 34 Albright (6-10 overall) turnovers in the game and the Lions were just 1-for-7 from three-point land. DeSales attempted 24 more shots (70-46) thanks in large part to 17 offensive rebounds and 15 less turnovers.
The Bulldogs will return to action on Saturday when they welcome Eastern University to Billera Hall for a rematch of an earlier season loss in Freedom Conference play. Tip is set for 1:00 pm.