Medford, MA (March 4, 2022) - Sophomore Mikaela Reese and senior Averi Jordan combined for 46 points and 19 rebounds leading the DeSales University women's basketball team past Cortland, 78-52, in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament on Friday evening in Cousens Gym on the campus of Tufts University.

The Basics

• Final Score: DeSales - 78, Cortland - 52
• Records: DeSales (22-3 Overall); Cortland (21-6 overall)
• This was DeSales' 15th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and its 13th under head coach Fred Richter.
• The win is DSU's eighth as they move to 8-14 all-time in the NCAA Tournament.
• It was the second career meeting with Cortland with the first coming back in 2005 as the Bulldogs even the all-time series record at 1-1.
• DeSales has now won 21 straight games on the season, one shy of the school-record, 22, set during the 2018-19 season.

How it Happened

• Jordan was unconscious early hitting her first four shots, including three 3's, as DeSales held a slim 16-14 lead after one quarter of play.
• After a three-point play from Jordan early in the second quarter, DSU led by five (21-16), before Cortland answered with a three-point play of its own making it 21-19 at the 7:17 mark.
• DeSales dominated the rest of the half, holding Cortland scoreless over the final 7:17, using an 18-0 run to take a commanding 39-19 lead into the halftime locker room.
• Reese had eight points during the run, while sophomore Amelia Saunders and junior Megan Bealer each hit 3's during the spurt.
• The two teams traded baskets over the first five minutes of the third quarter before the Bulldogs started pulling away with the lead peaking at 29 points once during the fourth quarter.

Top Bulldog Performers

• Reese finished with a game-high 26 points and pulled down 11 rebounds to record her ninth double-double of the season.  She shot 10-for-20 from the field and added five blocks on the defensive end.
• Jordan finished with 20 points and added eight rebounds.
• Bealer also reached double digits with 14 points.

For the Foes

• Nyia Longford had 17 points to lead Cortland.
• Corinne Miedreich finished with 15 points off the bench.

Inside the Box Score

• DeSales finished the game shooting 47.0 percent from the field and held Cortland to just 30.0 percent shooting.
• Cortland was 7-for-27 from outside the arc (25.9 percent), while DSU shot 40.0 percent from three-point land.
• DSU had a slim 43-42 advantage on the glass.

Up Next

• DeSales will take on weekend host, Tufts University, in the second round tomorrow with game time set for 5:00 pm.