Center Valley, PA (February 15, 2011) – The DeSales University women's basketball team joined the Freedom Conference 14 years ago and tonight the Bulldogs clinched their 14th consecutive playoff spot, keeping their streak alive of never missing the Freedom post-season with an 83-51 win over Wilkes University on Tuesday evening.
The win moves DeSales (16-8, 9-4 Freedom) into a four-way tie for first place with just one game remaining on the regular season schedule. The Bulldogs are tied with Manhattanville College, King's College, and Misericordia University, all of which have 9-4 records heading into the regular season finale on Saturday.
DeSales travels to FDU-Florham, King's hosts Wilkes, and Misericordia travels to Manhattanville on Saturday afternoon. The results of those three games will determine the seeding for the playoffs which will begin next Wednesday, February 23rd. Playoff scenarios are expected to be announced sometime this week by the conference office for all possible scenarios from Saturday's games. There are a few scenarios that exist allowing DeSales to have at least one home playoff game next Wednesday.
Freshman Sondrine Glovas led the Bulldogs in the win tonight with a game-high 21 points and added four steals. Senior Lori Lidlow totaled 15 points and had three steals, while freshman Faith Gilbert continued her hot shooting with 11 points off the bench in just 18 minutes.
Sophomore Colleen Gavin added 10 points and eight rebounds, junior Cherelle Simmons finished with six points and a game-high 11 boards, and junior Hannah Smith handed out six assists and finished with five steals in the win.
Wilkes (6-18, 2-11 Freedom) was led by senior Sam Lynam with 18 points, while sophomore Megan Kazmerski totaled 13 points and nine rebounds in the loss.
After Amanda Pawlowski banked in a three-pointer early in the first half, Wilkes held a 5-4 lead but the Bulldogs used a 12-0 run to take a 16-5 lead and never really looked back from there. The lead grew to as many as 26 points in the first half and peaked at 39 points twice in the second half before the final 32-point margin was posted.
DeSales finished the game shooting 47.5 percent from the field and held Wilkes to just 26.2 percent shooting. The Bulldogs also forced 24 turnovers, while out-rebounding the undersized Colonels, 44-39, for the game.
DeSales will look to take care of its own business on Saturday at FDU-Florham and wait to find out who their opponent will be and where the game will be played next Wednesday in the Freedom Conference semifinals. Tip for Saturday at FDU is set for 1:00 pm.