DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Alexiah Grant hit a layup at the buzzer to give four-time defending Freedom Conference champion DeSales University, a 76-74 triumph over host Delaware Valley College.

The Bulldogs improved to 8-7 overall and 3-1 in conference play while the Aggies fell to 9-5 and 1-3. Delaware Valley will host Salisbury University for its final non-conference game of the year on Monday, January 16 (6:00 p.m.).

Just 16 seconds earlier, Grant missed a pair of free throws that left DeSales clinging to a 74-73 lead. Delaware Valley moved the ball up the court and senior guard Brittany Battinieri was fouled with 6.5 ticks on the clock. She missed the first free throw, but hit the second to tie it up.

With no timeouts remaining, DeSales got the ball to senior guard Hannah Smith short of mid-court. She dribbled to the foul line and found a streaking Grant on her right, who laid a shot off the backboard and in just as the buzzer sounded and the backboard lights came on for the game-winning basket. 

DeSales built a lead as large as 10 in the first half before settling for a 36-32 lead at the intermission. Delaware Valley bounced back in the second half and led by on two occasions, the last at 57-52 with 8:25 remaining on an Emily Soper free throw. The Bulldogs then went on a 14-1 run, including a combined 10 points from Colleen Gavin and Sondrine Glovas, for a 66-58 advantage with 4:59 to go.

DeSales was still up eight, 70-62, with 3:47 remaining when the game turned into a battle of free throws as only three field goals went into the net down the stretch. The second of those three was a layup by the Aggies' Grace Mirack to cut the Bulldogs' lead to three, 74-71, with just under a minute remaining. DeSales failed to score on its possession and Brenna Coll was sent to the foul line with 44 seconds to go. The Delaware Valley freshman hit both attempts for a one-point game.

Back the other way, Emily Soper blocked a Bulldog shot and the Aggies got the rebound, but turned the ball over right back to DeSales. Grant was eventually fouled, setting the stage for the wild finish.

Glovas and Grant had 18 points apiece to pace the Bulldogs. Cherelle Simmons added 16 points and eight rebounds while Gavin came off the bench and contributed 11 points and 12 boards.

Battinieri scored a season-high 24 points and added four rebounds and three assists for Delaware Valley. Soper had 16 points, 11 rebounds and six blocked shots. Coll and Mirack had 14 points apiece while also combining for 12 boards.