CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (January 8, 2020) - The Devils women's basketball team opened up its 2020 Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom slate on Wednesday night as they took a trip to DeSales University. FDU fell to the Bulldogs by a score of 88-44 as they drop to 2-10 overall and 0-1 in the MAC Freedom. The Bulldogs jump to 9-3 and 1-0 in conference play.
 
The Bulldogs jumped out to a quick 6-0 lead in the contest. Looking to get points on the board, the Devils turned to senior Jennah Roman. First, Roman drove past the DU defensive unit off of an assist by freshman Angela Downey for the two-pointer. With the ball back in the Devils control, Roman capitalized off of a pass from classmate Cayla Staggers, as she knocked down FDU's first three-pointer on the night. The Devils used baskets by Staggers and freshman Jayda Bing to end the quarter trailing DU by a score of 18-10. 
 
In the second quarter, Staggers and Bing picked up right where they left off as the duo knocked down a pair of baskets to propel the Devils offense. Sophomore Helen Ishmael made her presence known when she scored a layup at the 3:14 mark for her first points of the game. DeSales overpowered the Devils on offense, as they took the lead going into the halftime break.
 
In the third quarter, Bing responded to DeSales opening basket with a three-pointer of her own. The Devil's next score also came the way of a three-pointer, as Ishmael fed the ball to Downey, who knocked down the shot. Downey scored again later in the quarter, as this time it was off a pass from fellow freshman Bing. With four seconds remaining in the quarter, freshman Meadow Garcia got in on the action, as she recorded a steal.
 
Junior Francesca Shipe started the Devils scoring efforts off in the fourth quarter with a made basket off of an assist by Downey. Downey remained active for the Devils, as she knocked down a three-pointer off an assist from Roman at the 8:26 mark. The freshman capped off the night for the Devils with a made layup off of an assist from Garcia at the 0:45 mark. As the final horn sounded, DeSales held on for the win.
 
FRESHMAN FOCUS
The Devils received significant contributions from its freshmen. Bing and Downey ended the game as the Devils leading two scorers. Bing added 14 points with eight rebounds, and Downey added 10 points, four rebounds, and two blocked shots. In 24 minutes played, Garcia had two points, three rebounds, and a steal.
 
CONTROLLING THE PAINT
Ishmael was tied with Bing for the Devils lead in rebounds with eight. Ishmael also recorded three blocked shots.

COACHES THOUGHTS
 "We played tough against a nationally ranked DeSales team. They are very fast and our lack of depth couldn't keep up with them" - Head Coach Melissa Brooks

UP NEXT 
The Devils remain on the road as the play visit to Misericordia on Saturday at 1 pm.