Boxscore 

PURCHASE, N.Y. – Three Manhattanville players finished with double figures as the women's basketball team defeated reigning Freedom Conference champions DeSales University, 66-58, on Wednesday evening in both teams' conference opener at Kennedy Gym.

The Valiants were led by senior Carey Hickey (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.) and junior Courtney Turner (Staten Island, N.Y.),as the guards tied for the team-high finished with 17 points each. Hickey was superb as the floor general in the contest, finishing with six assists, five rebounds and three steals to go with 4-of-7 shooting from the field and 7-of-9 from the free throw line. Turner was also a big help for the Valiants as she connected on 7-of-13 from the field and 3-of-4 from the line. The third Valiant to contribute in the contest was junior Kelli Hyjek (Tolland, Conn.), who tied her career highs in points with 15 and rebounds with nine. The most impressive part of her game was the three charges she took late in the contest to help the Valiants maintain the lead.

The victory was the first win over DeSales at Kennedy Gym and also was the second victory over a nationally recognized team this season, following the 66-62 win over the #18 Bowdoin College on November 19.

The Valiants held the lead the entire contest, with the only hiccup coming after the first basket to begin the game as a layup by Colleen Gavin gave the Bulldogs a 2-0 lead one minute in. A 6-0 run by the Valiants gave the home team a 13-5 lead with four points by Hyjek and a pair of free throws by Hickey.

The Bulldogs responded and made an attempted comeback with a 6-0 run after a three pointer by Megan Montchyk and a old-fashion and three-point play by Megan Gallagher cut the lead to 13-11 with 10:19 left. The cagers took a double-digit lead at the 3:34 mark with free throws by Turner and the Valiants completed an 8-0 run with a 14-point lead on a trifecta by Hickey with 3:24 left.

After the first half, the Valiants led by 10 points, 39-29, as Hickey led the scoring with 10 points. On the DeSales side Sondrine Glovas had nine points and seven rebounds, but would not complete the double-double as the Valiant defense keyed on her in the second half.  The Valiants shot 38 percent from the field and were nearly perfect from the line making 10-of-11 from the stripe.

DeSales opened up the second half with a pair of baskets and cut the deficit at six, 39-33, but the Valiants kicked it into high gear and never let the score get within a single possession.  Another 6-0 run by the Valiants pushed the lead up to 11 with 8:57 remaining in the contest and held a 55-44 advantage.  Sloppy ball handling by the Bulldogs late in the game, along with four turnovers and two offensive fouls, deflated their offense.  

Manhattanville as a team finished with an impressive 81 percent from the line and 40 percent from the field in the contest, but were out rebounded 43-35. DeSales finished the game at 35 percent from the field and 67 percent from the line, but their 20 turnovers and lack of outside shooting hurt their chances at the road victory.

Manhattanville (3-3, 1-0 Freedom) will travel to take on King's (Pa.) on Saturday afternoon at 1 p.m. in a Freedom Conference battle. DeSales (3-3, 1-0 Freedom) will host Delaware Valley at 1 p.m.