Bulldogs win 1st-round NCAA Tournament game

Megan Bealer scored a careerhigh 27 points in leading the DeSales University women’s basketball team past Mitchell College, 78-60, in the opening round of the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Tournament on Friday night in Billera Hall.

The Bulldogs will host Mary Washington at 7 Saturday night with the winner advancing to the Sweet 16 next weekend.

Mary Washington defeated Roger Williams College in the other first-round game on Friday at Billera Hall,

The Bulldogs jumped all over the Mariners opening up a 20-3 lead over the 8:12 of the game before Mitchell finished the first quarter on a 6-0 run as DeSales led 22-11 after one quarter of play.

Mitchell pulled to within single digits (26-17) early in the second quarter before a 10-2 run pushed the margin back to 17 points and the Bulldogs led by 18 (43-25) at the halftime break.

The Mariners showed no quit in the third quarter using a 9-0 run near the end of the quarter to get within eight points before the two teams traded baskets to end the stanza with DeSales leading by 10 (54-44).

It was back-and-forth to start the fourth quarter with DeSales leading by nine points at the 7:31 mark. But the Bulldogs put the game away from that point forward using a 10-0 run over the next four minutes to lead 70-51 as the lead peaked at 22 points before the final tally was posted.

Mikaela Reese had 15 points and seven rebounds for DeSales and Abigail Rafferty was a rebound shy of a double-double with 14 points and nine boards. Amelia Saunders had 12 points for DeSales.