The Muhlenberg women's basketball team recorded its biggest win of the young season, coming back from 10 points down to topple DeSales, 44-41.

The Bulldogs were playing their season opener after going 27-2 last year. They were ranked 14th in the D3hoops.com preseason poll.

To beat them, the Mules (3-0) out-defensed one of the top defensive teams in Division III. DeSales ranked in the top five in the country in field-goal percentage defense, steals and turnover margin last season, but in this game, the steals and turnovers were just about even, and Muhlenberg held the Bulldogs to 24.2-percent shooting, including 16.0 percent in the final three quarters.

The Mules trailed 19-9 after DeSales scored on the first possession of the second quarter but allowed only one field goal the rest of the period. Muhlenberg closed the half on a 12-2 run to bring the teams into the break knotted at 21-all.

DeSales opened up a six-point lead, 35-29, with two minutes to play in the third quarter before the Mule defense forced another long drought. The Bulldogs went more than 10 minutes without making a field goal, and Muhlenberg steadily climbed back. A three-pointer from the top of the key by junior Emily Unger tied the score at 36-36 with 7:26 to play.

It was 40-40 after DeSales made a free throw with 1:33 remaining. Junior Ava Connolly was fouled in the backcourt two seconds later and made both free throws to put the Mules ahead for good.

The Bulldogs had the ball with under 20 seconds to play, own by one, but junior Jenna Stockfeder stole a pass into the middle. Junior Rachel Saxton hit two free throws with 9.9 seconds remaining to make it 44-41, and Muhlenberg survived two game-tying three-point tries before time expired.

Saxton scored a team-leading 13 points, including the Mules' first seven points. Connolly finished with 12 points.

Stockfeder had a huge game on defense, pulling down 12 rebounds (10 on the defensive end), blocking 3 shots and recording 4 steals. Senior Caroline Horst ended with 8 rebounds, 3 blocks and a pair of steals.

It was the second time in three years that Muhlenberg won at home against a DeSales team that was ranked in the top 20 in the preseason poll. The Mules also completed a season sweep of Lehigh Valley rivals Moravian and DeSales for the second time in three years.