MADISON (NJ) – The Delaware Valley University women's basketball team put forth a good effort but ultimately came up short in a 67-58 defeat at FDU-Florham in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom game on Wednesday night.
The Aggies dropped to 6-10 overall and 2-3 in the conference. The Devils, the three-time defending conference champions and 2014 national title winner, improved to 11-5 and they are 3-2 in the MAC Freedom.
The contest included eight ties and 11 lead changes. DelVal held a 56-55 advantage with 3:41 to go but FDU-Florham ended the contest with a 12-2 run. Alyssa McDonough had eight points in the stretch, including the go-ahead layup with 3:11 on the clock. Although the Aggies shot 48 percent (23-48) from the field for the game, DelVal struggled to find a basket in the final three minutes, going 0-for-4 on field goals and 2-for-4 at the foul line. The Aggies had the ball, down two, with 36 seconds left but a missed jumper allowed the Devils to pull away. FDU-Florham went 5-for-9 at the charity stripe in the final seconds.
In the opening quarter, FDU-Florham held a 14-9 advantage after Shalette Brown's jumper with seven seconds to go. Senior Eireann Anastasi got off a jump shot before the buzzer and the ball went in to make it a three-point game (14-11) to start the second. The Devils led 19-15 with 5:45 on the clock. DelVal followed with six of the next seven points to take a 21-20 lead with 4:25 remaining. The two squads were even for the rest of the half with the Aggies ahead 30-29 at the break. Freshman Brianna Rivello led all scorers with 13 points and added five assists.
FDU-Florham recorded the first five points of the third to hold a 34-30 cushion (8:51). Delaware Valley followed with an 8-4 run for the fourth tie of the game at 38 (5:04). Junior Sam Foy and Anastasi scored four points each in the stretch. The teams were equal again for the remainder of the frame, entering the final period in a 45-45 tie. The Devils opened the fourth with six of the first eight points. However, the Aggies again went on an 8-4 spurt to bring the contest to a 55-55 deadlock with 4:14 to go.
Brown finished with a game-high 23 points and 20 rebounds. The 2015 D3hoops.com All-American also notched four steals. McDonough scored 20 points and Danielle Leguillou added 11. Rachel Groom brought down 11 rebounds. FDU-Florham outrebounded DelVal by a 49-33 margin, including 22 on the offensive glass which led to 22 second chance points.
Anastasi paced the Aggies with 20 points and six assists. Rivello put up 15 points, nine boards and five assists. Foy contributed with 15 points and seven rebounds. Freshman Danielle Skedzielewski corralled six rebounds.
Next, DelVal is scheduled to host DeSales University on Saturday, January 23 in a conference matchup (1:00 p.m.).