DeSales Holds Off F&M Rally to Claim ECAC Women's Basketball Championship, 79-68 OT

by Sports Information
3/3/02

Annville, Pa. – DeSales University's Andrea Demaranville scored 24 points, including four in overtime, as the Bulldogs defeated Franklin & Marshall College in overtime for the ECAC South Region women's basketball championship at Lebanon Valley College, 79-68.

Trailing by 14 points in the first half, the Diplomats cut the DeSales lead to 37-27 at halftime. Following intermission, F&M engineered a 39-29 half to pull even with the Bulldogs.

The Diplomats would have their chance to win the game in the final four seconds as All-American guard Amy Kreitz (Sr., Allentown, PA/Salisbury) was fouled with the Diplomats trailing 66-65. She made the first of the pair, but rimmed out the second as the two teams went into overtime tied at 66.

In the extra period, the Bulldogs would dominate limiting F&M to a one-for-eight shooting performance for two points, while knocking down four-of-eight from the field for 13 points for the nine point victory.

Overall, Kreitz finished with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while center Amy Abernathy (So., Far Hills, NJ/American School Paris) chipped in 24 points and 18 boards to lead the team.

Senior guard Lauren Howanski (Gap, PA/Pequea Valley) added 13 points and three rebounds as the Diplomats shot 33.8 percent for the game (23-for-68).

For their careers, Kreitz and Howanski finish among the College's all-time leaders in several categories as the duo combined for 2,850 points.

Kreitz, who ranks fourth all-time in scoring with 1,651 career points, 15 short of surpassing Cathy Belser '90 for third on the all-time list, ranks among the leaders in assists (225, sixth), steals (281, second), three point field goals (103, fourth), three-point percentage (35.0 percent, fourth) and rebounding (489, 12th).

Howanksi ranks in the top 20 in several categories including scoring (1,199, 11th), rebounding (358, 17th), assists (263, fourth), three-point field goals (105, third) and three-point field goal percentage (35.11 percent, second).

F&M is now 20-7 on the year, as the team achieved the first 20 win season since 1991 when the Diplomats went 21-6 under head coach Rebecca Lovett.

Historically, F&M is now 5-5 all-time against the Bulldogs, formerly the Allentown College Centaurs, since their first meeting in 1986-87. The two teams last meetings have come in the post-season as DeSales defeated the Diplomats in the 1989 and 1990 NCAA Tournaments.

The Diplomats last met DeSales in the 1990 NCAA Tournament as the then Centaurs shocked F&M 77-70 in overtime, the last time the Franklin & Marshall College women's basketball program appeared in the NCAA Tournament. In 1989, DeSales held off the Diplomats 74-58.