Box Score The Misericordia University women's basketball team's fourth-quarter rally came up just short in a 44-41 loss to DeSales, Saturday afternoon in the Anderson Center.
Justine Seely had 16 points, 15 rebounds and four blocks to lead the Cougars who outscored the Bulldogs, 14-3, in the fourth quarter before seeing a potential game-tying three-pointer bounce off the back iron at the buzzer.
DeSales used a 12-4 third quarter to take a 41-27 lead heading into the final stanza.
After the Bulldogs scored to open the fourth quarter, they were held without a point until the closing seconds.
Seely scored six straight points, including a layup underneath on a sharp pass from
Liz Waleski to get MU within 44-33.
Waleski buried a three-pointer from the left wing and
Rachel Carmody used a nice spin move and drive to make it 43-38 with 4:46 to play.
Japriya Carroll added a free throw and Seely connected a pair of foul shots to cut the deficit to 43-41 with 1:19 remaining.
DeSales closed the scoring with a free throw with eight seconds left.
The Cougars pounded the ball inside on their first three possessions of the game as Seely and Carmody combined for three baskets to give MU an early 6-3 lead.
Shannon Croasdale drained a three-pointer from the right corner for a 9-5 lead less than three minutes into the game.
A Seely put back made it 11-7 with 6:05 left in the first quarter, but DeSales answered with seven straight points to take a 14-11 lead after the first period.
Trailing 17-11 early in the second period,
Leanne Forsyth hit a foul line jumper and Seely drilled a long jumper from inside the arc to beat the shot clock.
Forsyth's reverse layup along the baseline got the Cougars within 19-17.
Paige Wampole's made back-door layup off a pass from Seely and followed with two free throws to give MU a 23-22 lead with 2:05 to play in the first half.
DeSales closed the quarter on a 7-0 run and used a big third period before withstanding Misericordia's fourth-quarter charge.
The Cougars, 10-6 (4-2), will visit Wilkes, Wednesday.
