Center Valley, PA (December 19, 2023) - Four players scored in double digits and the #18 DeSales University women's basketball team nearly forced a second OT before ultimately falling to #6 The University of Scranton, 68-63, in overtime in a game that felt like March Madness played in December on Tuesday evening in Billera Hall.

The Basics

• Final Score: #6 Scranton - 68, #18 DeSales - 63 (OT)
• Records: #18 DeSales (7-2 Overall); #6 Scranton (10-0 Overall)
• Scranton has now won five straight in the series and improves to 32-8 all-time vs. the Bulldogs.

How it Happened

• This game was a heavyweight battle from the very beginning between two of the best 20 teams in the entire country that lived up to the pre-game hype.
• After Scranton scored the first four points of the game, DeSales countered with a 12-2 run to take a 12-6 lead seven minutes into the game.
• The Lady Royals finished the first quarter scoring eight of the final nine points to grab a 14-13 lead.
• The second quarter went back-and-forth the entire way as the Bulldogs played the last 7:34 without senior Mikaela Reese in foul trouble but rallied to take a 28-26 lead into the halftime locker room.
• Tied at 36 late in the third quarter UofS used an 8-1 run to take a 44-37 lead on the strength of two 3's from first-year Meghan Lamanna and led by five after three quarters of play.
• DSU fought back over the first five minutes to tie the game at 47 with 5:08 remaining but the Lady Royals scored seven of the next nine points, mostly from the charity stripe to claim a 54-49 edge with 1:57 to go.
• A lay-up from senior Megan Bealer cut the margin down to three on the next possession and the Bulldog defense forced a shot clock violation.
• Bealer once again drove the lane and was fouled but was only able to hit 1-of-2 from the stripe making it a two-point game with 46 ticks left.
• Reese got a steal on the other end and DSU called timeout with 11 seconds left down two.
• Out of the timeout a pass inside to Bealer was knocked around but caromed straight to Reese who hit an 8-footer with 2 seconds left to eventually force OT after a last second three from Scranton hit the side of the backboard.
• Scranton scored the first seven points of overtime and seemed well on its way to the win, however the Bulldogs showed no quit.
• Sophomore Mikaili Donmoyer hit three free throws with 1:17 to go to make it a four-point game.
• The Lady Royals countered with two free throws on the other end to give UofS a 63-57 lead with 46.2 seconds left.
• Out of a timeout, senior Lindsey Welsh nailed a three-pointer to get the Bulldogs within three and Lamanna missed two free throws on the other end with 35 seconds left.
• DeSales came down and worked the ball around to Donmoyer who hit nothing but net on a top of the key three-pointer with 25 seconds left to tie the game.
• Scranton didn't call timeout and Kaci Kranson cut back door for an "and 1" lay-up, converting the free throw to push the lead back to three points and the Bulldogs were out of comebacks as a turnover led to two free throws for the Royals and the five point win in an incredible basketball game.

Top Bulldog Performers

• Donmoyer finished with a season-high 15 points to lead DeSales.
• Reese and Bealer each had 14 points with Bealer adding six rebounds and Reese finishing with five boards and four blocks.
• Welsh also reached double digits with 10 points.

For the Foes

• Kranson had a double-double with 21 points and 11 rebounds, but also committed seven turnovers.
• Maddy Ryan gave Scranton a huge boost with 15 points and Lamanna had 10 points off the bench.

Inside the Box Score

• Scranton entered the game averaging just over 10 turnovers per game but the Bulldogs forced the Lady Royals into 24 miscues.
• UofS did dominate the glass out-rebounding DeSales, 47-31.
• DeSales shot just 33.9 percent from the field as compared to 40.0 percent shooting for Scranton.