ST. DAVIDS (PA) – Delaware Valley College opened the game with a 14-0 run and then held on at the end for a 57-52, Freedom Conference victory over host Eastern University.

The win improved the Aggies to 9-12 overall and 3-7 in the league. They are one game behind both Eastern (8-13, 4-6) and defending champion Misericordia University for the fourth and final conference tournament berth with four games remaining.

Delaware Valley dominated the first seven minutes of the contest as six points from Brenna Coll, three each from Eireann Anastasi and Bridget Sobon and two from Shannon Barlow gave the team the 14-point lead. Meanwhile, the Eagles were 0-for-9 with three turnovers during that stretch. Eastern finished the half just 5-for-23 from the line and trailed 29-18 at the break.

The Eagles pulled to within five with 11 minutes remaining in the second half when Delaware Valley went on a 7-0 run for its largest lead of the afternoon. Coll hit the final five points of the spurt, including a 3-pointer that made it 47-35.

Eastern came roaring back and scored 12 straight points, including seven from Kaitlyn Dougherty, to tie it up. The game was still at 49-49 when Anastasi hit a layup and Agatha Drozd followed with two free throws for a four-point Aggie lead. They increased the lead to seven as Anastasi hit one of two free throws with 57 seconds left and Bridget Sobon sank two from the line with 31 ticks to go. Dougherty hit a bomb to make it two-possession game but Drozd sealed the win with a free throw with five seconds left.

Coll paced Delaware Valley with 19 points, 13 rebounds and four steals. Anastasi finished with 15 points and four assists while Barlow scored four points and grabbed 11 boards. Soper had eight points and eight rebounds before fouling out.

Eastern, which was without its leading scorer in Megan Nowak, was led by Dougherty's game-high 22 points. Gina DiDomenico added 11 points and seven rebounds in the loss.