DOYLESTOWN (PA) – FDU-Florham used a 9-1 run late in the second half as the visiting Devils spoiled Delaware Valley College's upset bid and notched their 16th consecutive win with Wednesday's 71-62 Freedom Conference triumph.
FDU-Florham improved to 17-1 overall and a perfect 7-0 as the first half of the league schedule came to an end. The loss dropped the Aggies to 7-11 overall and 1-6 in the Freedom.
Twelve of the Devils' prior 15 wins during the streak were by 15 points or more. However, Delaware Valley took a 53-51 lead with 8:49 as freshman Kelsey Kilpatrick drained a 3-pointer. FDU-Florham scored the next six points, including four from the Dayon sisters, Kara and Kyra.
The Aggies responded with back-to-back buckets by Shannon Barlow and Brenna Coll to tie the game at 57 with 6:06 to go. The deadlock was short-lived as, just 15 seconds later, Kara Dayon hit a jumper. Kyra Dayon then hit a pair of the foul line and Kara Dayon drilled a trey for a seven-point lead. Emily Soper ended the Delaware Valley drought with one free throw with 2:23 remaining, but Delisha Thompson concluded the 9-1 spurt with two free throws with 1:38 on the clock. The Aggies never got closer than six points the rest of the way.
FDU-Florham opened the contest with a 19-9 run but strong shooting by Delaware Valley got the squad back in the game and it trailed by just four, 36-32, at the break. The Aggies finished those first 20 minutes with a 58.3 percent shooting percentage (14-for-24), including a 50 percent mark from 3-point land (3-for-6). Those trio of bombs came on three straight trips down the court midway through the stanza. However, Delaware Valley was just 2-for-13 from beyond the arc in the second half as the Devils responded late for the win.
Kyra Dayon notched 24 points, seven rebounds and four assists while Kara Dayon had 11 points, nine boards and six assists. Leigh Ann Lively came off the bench to hit four treys and finished with 17 points.
Eireann Anastasi paced Delaware Valley with 16 points while Barlow and Agatha Drozd added 12 points apiece. Drozd also dished out five assists. Kilpatrick hit double figures with 10 points.