DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Delaware Valley University used a 12-0 run in the second quarter and eventually pulled away to a 67-50 triumph over visiting Eastern University in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom game.
The Aggies upped their overall record to 6-12 and ended the first half of conference play with a 3-4 mark and just one and a half games out of a playoff spot. The Eagles fell to 4-14 and 1-6.
DelVal led 16-12 after the first quarter, but Eastern scored eight of the first 12 in the second, including a 3-pointer by Amana Riff that tied the contest with 6:42 to go before halftime.
However, just 14 seconds later, Lauren Moretti sank a 3-pointer and the Aggies took off from there. Moretti followed with a basket inside and then hit another bomb. Monika Smallwood then added back-to-back layups for the 12-0 run and a 32-20 lead. The Eagles got the next four points, but DelVal ended the half with a 4-1 run to take a 36-25 lead into the locker room.
The Aggies opened the second half with a 9-2 spurt for a 19-point advantage. Eastern cut its deficit to 10 later in the quarter, but Amber Grohowski sank a pair of free throws with 1:18 to go and Smink drained a trey just before the buzzer for a 55-40 lead. DelVal continued the run in the fourth as Smink and Moretti hit back-to-back 3-pointers and the team cruised the rest of the way.
The Aggies connected on seven of 16 shots from beyond the arc, including three each by Moretti and Smink. Smink finished with a team-high 15 points and added six rebounds and three assists. Moretti came off the bench to pour in 13 points in 21 minutes of action. Smallwood had 14 points and seven boards while Grohowski notched 10 points, five rebounds and four assists.
Eastern was led by Viki Kneis' 10 points. Taylr Azer had eight points and eight rebounds in the loss.
DelVal will travel to Wilkes University for a MAC Freedom game on Saturday, January 27 (1 p.m.)