Center Valley, PA (November 15, 2014) – Freshman Leandra Sterner scored a game-high 22 points in her first collegiate game leading the DeSales University women's basketball team past Arcadia University, 72-66, in the opening game of the Morgan Stanley (Easton office)/Holiday Inn Tip-off Tournament on Saturday afternoon in Billera Hall.
The Bulldogs (1-0) will host Salisbury University, a 62-57 winner over Stevens Tech in the other opening round game, in the championship game tomorrow at 4:00 pm in Billera Hall. Stevens Tech will take on Arcadia University in the consolation game at 2:00 pm.
Sterner hit 8-of-20 from the field and added five steals in the win. Sophomore Megan Baird also reached double digits with 11 points off the bench, while junior Jen Napolitano had a terrific game with a career-high nine points off the bench. Senior Alex Suk and junior Kelly Anthony each grabbed a team-high seven rebounds and sophomore Nikki Callahan had five assists.
DeSales jumped out early on Saturday extending an 11-5 lead into a 34-14 advantage with a 23-9 run with 4:41 left to play in the opening half. Bair had two three's during the spurt, while Sterner and Napolitano each had five points in a balanced effort.
Arcadia stormed back however outscoring DeSales 15-5 over the final 4:22 to cut the deficit down to 10 points (39-29) at the break. Sterner led the Bulldogs with 12 points at the break as eight different players scored in the half.
The lead swelled to 13 points early in the half on a jumper from senior Mikelyn Mackavage and stood at 12 with 12:19 to go when the Knights scored seven straight points to get within five at the 10:07 mark.
Sterner answered the run with lay-up off a nice pass from Callahan and Baird nailed another three to push the lead back up to 10 points with 9:13 to go.
The two teams traded baskets for about the next eight minutes as the Bulldogs led by eight with 1:20 left to play when AU got a four-point possession rebounding the miss of a second free throw and canning a three to make it a 67-63 game with 1:05 remaining.
Sterner however iced the game with four free throws over the final 32 seconds around a three from AU's Megan Fox giving DSU the win in the season opener.