The Misericordia University women's basketball suffered just its second loss of the season, 68-59, to DeSales in a battle of nationally-ranked teams, Monday night at the Anderson Center.

Tessa Zamolyi led the Cougars with 15 points and Paige Wampole had a double-double with 11 points and 13 rebounds.

Erica Haefele added 10 points and Rachel Carmody had 10 rebounds.

After a layup by Zamolyi got the Cougars with 49-46 with 6:54 to play, the Bulldogs scored eight straight points to take a 57-46 lead and the Cougars never got closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Despite never leading, the Cougars battled throughout the fast-paced contest.

Trailing 18-10 late in the first period, the Cougars got two free throws from Japriya Carroll and Zamolyi drained a three-pointer from the top of the key.

Carroll followed with a pull-up jumper in the lane to get within one, but the Bulldogs ended the period with a three-pointer to lead 21-17.

DeSales stretched its lead to 26-19 early in the second quarter, but the Cougars answered with five straight points, including a fast break form Erica Haefele off a Carmody steal.

After a DeSales basket, Leanne Forsyth converted a steal into a layup to get within 29-27, but the Bulldogs added a free throw to lead 30-27 at halftime.

Forsyth made a runner to stop a 6-0 DeSales' run and cut MU's deficit to 35-29 midway through the third period.

Zamolyi used a nice spin move down low for a layup and a three-point play and added another spinning layup near the end of the third quarter and the Cougars trailed 43-38 with 10:00 to play.

DeSales took its biggest lead of the night, 60-48, with 4:09 to go and the Cougars never got closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Misericordia, ranked 20^th in the nation entering the game, is 17-2 overall and 6-2 in the MAC Freedom.  DeSales, #18, is 17-2 and remained perfect in the MAC Freedom at 8-0.