Center Valley, PA (November 28, 2022) - The DeSales University women's basketball team held #21 Messiah University to just 35 points and 30 percent shooting in a 61-35 win over the Falcons in non-conference action on Monday evening in Billera Hall.

The Basics

• Final Score: DeSales - 61, Messiah - 35
• Records: DeSales (5-0 Overall); Messiah (3-2 Overall)
• DeSales improves to 9-10 all-time vs. the Falcons with the win and 6-2 at home.
• It is DSU's 30th straight win at home, extending its school-record as the Bulldogs are now 53-1 in their last 54 games in Billera Hall.

How it Happened

• This was a classic defensive battle between two of the best teams over the last 20 years in the Mid-Atlantic Region.
• Messiah took an early four point lead before DeSales finished the first quarter on a 10-2 spurt to lead 12-8 after the first 10 minutes of play.
• The Falcons scored the first seven points of the second quarter to regain a one-point lead (15-14) but the Bulldogs finished off the second quarter with an identical 10-2 run to lead by six (25-19) at the halftime break.
• The second-half was all Bulldogs as they held Messiah to just 20 percent shooting over the final 20 minutes and a total of 16 points (8 in each quarter).
• DeSales pushed a seven point lead late in the third quarter up to 16 points with nine straight points before the lead swelled to as many as 29 points in the fourth quarter.
• After shooting just 33.3 percent in the first-half, DSU shot 14-24 (58.3 percent) in the second-half to pull away.

Top Bulldog Performers

• Senior Megan Bealer led the offensive charge with 19 points and pulled down eight rebounds.
• Junior Abigail Rafferty also reached double digits with a season-high 12 points.
• Junior Lindsey Welsh was terrific on both ends of the court with eight points, a career-high 10 rebounds, and five assists.
• Junior Mikaela Reese finished with eight points, eight rebounds, six steals, and two blocks.
• Senior Maria Newsome and junior Amelia Saunders each had seven points.

For the Foes

• Reese Harden led the Falcons with eight points.

Inside the Box Score

• DeSales finished the game shooting 45.1 percent from the field and was 5-for-10 from outside the arc.
• DSU held Messiah to just 30 percent shooting overall.
• The Bulldogs dominated the glass out-rebounding the Falcons 40-23.
• Both team finished north of 20 turnovers but DeSales feasted out-scoring Messiah, 27-10 in points off turnovers.
• 34 of DSU's 61 points came in the paint where as Messiah had just 14 points in the paint.

Up Next

• The Bulldogs are right back in action on Wednesday when they open MAC Freedom play vs. King's College with start time set for 8:00 pm in Billera Hall.