CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (Nov. 14, 2015) – Sophomore Brianna Cullen (Lansdale, N.Y.) and senior Brianna Wylie (Mount Laurel, N.J.) each recorded a double-double, but it wasn't enough, as the Widener University women's basketball team fell to DeSales by an 84-66 decision in the season opener for both schools on Saturday afternoon. The Pride will next play the College of New Jersey in the consolation match of the Morgan Stanley Tip-Off Tournament tomorrow afternoon.
 
DeSales (1-0) jumped out to a 13-3 lead by the midway point of the first quarter and did not allow the Pride to hit a field goal until Wylie came through with a layup at the 5:59 mark. The Bulldog lead grew to as many as 15 points on two occasions in the opening frame until senior Ally Ferrucci (Vineland, N.J.) found sophomore Allison Gallagher (Souderton, Pa.) for a 3-pointer that made it 24-15 at the end of the first quarter.
 
Widener was more competitive in the second quarter and came within eight at 26-18 when Wylie completed a 3-point play the old-fashioned way with 7:56 left. The Bulldogs, however, went on a 14-5 run and led 40-26 at the break.
 
DeSales stayed in control throughout the second half and maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way to pull out the victory. The margin would grow to as many as 27 before Tasjah Davis closed out the scoring with a 3-pointer that produced the final outcome.
 
DeSales was paced by Leandra Sterner, who finished with 23 points by shooting 9-of-17 from the field, including 5-of-9 from long range. Morgan McCollian contributed 16 points and was also hot from the floor by nailing eight of her 10 shots. Katie Miller finished with 10 points and six assists.
 
Wylie contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Cullen netted 11 and grabbed 10 boards to lead the way for Widener. Both of Cullen's marks were also career highs. Sophomore Julia Venturelli (Bridgewater, N.J.) and Gallagher reached double figures in scoring with 11 and 10 points, respectively.
 
Widener (0-1) will play in the consolation game tomorrow afternoon at 2:00 p.m. when it faces the College of New Jersey, which fell to Scranton by a 59-53 score later in the day.