MADISON (NJ) – Delaware Valley College gave fifth-ranked and undefeated FDU-Florham everything and had and held a one-point lead with 3:46 remaining, but the Devils escaped with a 56-49 victory in the Freedom Conference semifinals.

For FDU-Florham, the defending conference champions improved to 26-0 and will host third-seeded DeSales University in Saturday's title game.

For the Aggies, who have no seniors on their roster and who were making their first conference tournament appearance since 2010, the loss dropped them to 15-11. However, their season may not be over as they will find out on Monday whether or not they are selected for the eight-team Eastern College Athletic Conference (ECAC) South region playoffs. Delaware Valley's strength of schedule may be a deciding factor in the decision as it played tough in five games against top teams in a conference, including three against FDU-Florham.

Delaware Valley held the Devils to 26 points under their season average, including just 18 points in the first 20 minutes as the Aggies took a 23-18 lead at halftime. It marked just the third time this season that FDU-Florham trailed at halftime with two of them coming against Delaware Valley. The Aggies led later in a game than any Devils' opponent and the seven-point differential was the smallest margin of victory for FDU-Florham.

Delaware Valley still held a five-point lead at 31-26 after freshman Sam Foy hit a layup on a fast break with 16:12 to go. However, the Devils exploded for 16 straight points over the next six minutes for a 42-31 advantage. Part of that was nine fouls being called on the Aggies – after just four in the whole first half – including three on the offensive end.

With FDU-Florham threatening to break the game wide open, Delaware Valley responded. First, Agatha Drozd broke the spurt hit a free throw with 8:41 on the clock. Eireann Anastasi followed with back-to-back 3-pointers for a 7-0 run and 42-38 deficit with 7:32 left.

It was still a four-point game when Brenna Coll inside to make it 46-44. Foy then hit a drive while being fouled and she hit the free throw for a 47-46 Aggie lead with 3:46 left – the latest the Devils trailed in a game all season.

FDU-Florham regained the lead 64 seconds later on a pair of free throws from Jalessa Lewis. After a Delaware Valley miss and with the shot clock winding down, All-American Kyra Dayon hit a runner for a 50-47 lead. The Aggies turned the ball over but it got back on a steal by Drozd. Brittany Wood was fouled with 32.5 seconds left but missed both free throw opportunities. 

Kyra Dayon was fouled with 27.1 ticks left and hit both for a five-point lead. Anastasi missed a shot, but got the rebound and put it in with 15.4 seconds to go to keep Delaware Valley alive. Lewis was sent to the foul line a second later and she sank both. Coll missed a 3-pointer and Kyra Dayon hit two free throws for the 56-49 final.

Both teams struggled in the early going. Delaware Valley trailed 11-9 nearly eight minutes into the first half, but its defense forced the Devils into poor looks as well as two shot clock violations. The Aggies tied the game on a layup by Foy but then went nearly eight minutes without a basket. However, their defense allowed just four points during that span as FDU-Florham had a 15-11 advantage with 3:02 left.

The rest of the half belonged to Delaware Valley as it scored 10 straight points and 12 of the last 15 to take a 23-18 lead into the intermission. Anastasi started the run with a 3-pointer and Wood gave the Aggies the lead with two free throws. Anastasi hit a jumper and Wood connected from beyond the arc. After a Kara Dayon ended the 10-0 spurt, Drozd was fouled with 35 seconds left and sank both for the 23-18 lead at the break.

From there, FDU-Florham seemed to put the game in the second but the Aggies battled back and gave the Devils their biggest scare of the season before falling late.

Delaware Valley struggled from the field, shooting just 16-for-56 (28.6%), including a 5-for-22 effort (22.7%) from beyond the arc. FDU-Florham, which shot just 30.4 percent in the first half, hit more than half its shots in the second stanza. The Devils did have 18 turnovers (just 12 by Delaware Valley), including 11 in the first half.

Anastasi led the Aggies with 15 points while also adding five rebounds and four steals. Drozd had 10 points, five boards and three steals. Foy added seven points in 12 minutes off the bench.

Kyra Dayon led all players with 20 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Kara Dayon had 12 points while Lewis added nine points.