ST.DAVIDS, Pa.--Eastern University Women's Basketball shot 63% over the final 23 minutes of the game to overcome a 15 point deficit and topple the visiting DeSales University Bulldogs 60-56. Junior guard Shante Jones scored 20 of her game-high 34 points after the intermission. The win is the fourth straight for the Eagles (8-4, 1-2 Freedom).

After the Eagles grabbed an early 5-2 lead on a Lori Wileczek jumper and a three-pointer from Jones, the Bulldogs scored ten straight points to grab a 12-5 lead six minutes into the game. The Eagles struggled to find any rhythm offensively, and DeSales used a 7-1 advantage on the offensive glass, 30% Eastern shooting, and 12 turnovers to build a 30-15 edge with three minutes to go in the half. 

Though Jones scored 14 of the team's 21 first-half points, Wileczek made what might have been the biggest basket of the game when she drained a 3 pointer to cut the deficit to 12. The junior guard then snared a tough rebound in traffic after a DeSales miss to earn another possession for the home side. Jones scored the last three points of the first half to bring the deficit to single-digits at intermission.

With the lead under ten, the Eagles came onto the floor with new life in the second half. Jones keyed a defensive effort that held the visitors to 36% shooting in the second half. Eastern, led by Jones' four thefts, also grabbed 7 second-half steals.

"When they got up, we knew we had to just keep playing hard," Jones said after the game, "the lead never phased us. Coach said that they were capable of going on big runs and that we just had to make everything up on defense. And we did."

Even with the renewed energy at both ends of the floor, the Eagles still trailed by 9 when Lori Lidlow connected on a long three pointer with just under 12 minutes to play. The Eagles then pieced together a 13-3 run to briefly take the lead on a another Wileczek three-pointer.

The Bulldogs, however, did not go quietly. Megan Montchyk buried a three pointer and Sondrine Glovas made a pair of free throws to put DeSales up 50-46 with five and a half minutes to play.

Jones and sophomore center Sam Weaver alternated scoring as the Eagles scored eight straight to grab a four point lead with three to play. Weaver scored on a solid post move and a pair of free throws. Jones, who made 8-11 shots after half, did not have any easy ones as the DeSales defense contested each of her attempts.

DeSales, a perennial playoff team, answered the run with a 4-0 run of their own to tie the game at 54-54 with two minutes to play. With the Bulldogs keying their efforts on Jones, Wileczek grabbed an opening in the middle of the floor and drained a 14 footer to give Eastern the lead for good. Jones intercepted a pass on the next possession and iced the game with a lay-in.

The victory, while it is an early season win, is ostensibly the biggest win in the last ten years of Eastern University Women's Basketball. The Eagles, in Head Coach Nate Davis' first season, have already surpassed last year's win total and equaled last year's win total in the Freedom Conference. To pick up the win against a team that is always right there at the end adds to the credibility of the win.

"I'm just happy for the team," Davis said afterward, "as a new coach, I came in and immediately just saw potential. I didn't see the history; I don't even know the history. They [DeSales] are a very good team. They are one of many in our conference. It's gonna be a tough fight every single night that we have a conference game, just like this one."

Davis pointed to the efforts of Katie Lincoln and Wileczek in handling pressure and to the work of Becca Roland (10 rebounds) on the glass. Jones added six rebounds and six steals to her 34 points. Wileczek was the only other Eagle in double-figures with 12. 

Cherelle Simmons (13 points, 11 rebounds) and Colleen Gavin (12 points, 15 rebounds) both recorded double-doubles in the loss.

Jones has scored 116 points and grabbed 39 rebounds in the team's four-game winning streak.

"I take it one day at a time." Jones said when asked what was up next,  "I know we have practice tomorrow. And I'll be there early."  The Eagles return to action on Wednesday night with a home game against Wilkes University.

As part of Eastern's Season of Impact, the gate from the doubleheader will be given to Teen Challenge. Teen Challenge is an organization committed to helping young people battle drug and alcohol addiction.

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