Aracely Cruz had a double-double with 21 points and 12 rebounds.

HOBOKEN, N.J. – Senior guard Aracely Cruz (Union City, N.J./Union Hill) recorded game-highs of 21 points and 12 rebounds to lead Stevens Institute of Technology to a 56-46 win over Ramapo College on Monday in a non-conference women’s basketball game at the Canavan Arena.

Stevens (1-3) saw a 17-point lead slip away in the second half, but scored the final 12 points of the game to earn its first win.  Ramapo (3-1) shot just 27.0 percent from the floor in suffering its first loss.

Stevens held a 17-point halftime lead (31-14) and seemed to be in control in the second half.  A layup by junior guard Lauren Bialko (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) gave Stevens a 40-23 lead with 11:44 left.  Ramapo mounted a 23-4 run over the next seven minutes to take a two-point lead.  Junior guard Janine Cappadona (Atlantic Highlands, N.J./Red Bank) led the Roadrunner comeback with 12 points as she drained four straight 3-pointers.  A jumper by junior forward Danielle Hunt (Englewood, N.J./Dwight Morrow) gave Ramapo a 46-44 lead with 4:29 remaining.

Stevens answered the Ramapo run, scoring the final 12 points of the game.  Junior forward Jaime Mehnert (Waldwick, N.J./Waldwick) went the length of the floor for a layup, tying the game at 46-46 with 3:14 left.  After Hunt missed the front end of a one-and-one for Ramapo, Stevens sophomore forward Jenna Gambino (Staten Island, N.Y./St. John Villa Academy) hit a 12-foot jumper with 2:52 left to put the Ducks ahead to stay.  Stevens went 5-for-6 from the free-throw line in the final 2:12 to seal the win.

Stevens took advantage of a cold-shooting Ramapo team in the first half.  Trailing 9-7 at the 15:51 mark, the Ducks used a 21-2 run over the next 11 minutes to take a 17-point lead.  Bialko had 10 of her 15 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, during that stretch.  The Roadrunners, who shot just 4-for-28 in the first half, went more than 12 minutes without a field goal.

Stevens held a 47-38 rebounding advantage.  Mehnert and Gambino added seven rebounds apiece for the Ducks.  Cappadona was the only Ramapo player in double figures, finishing with 18 points on six 3-pointers.

Stevens is back in action on Wednesday with a 5 p.m. game at Lehman College in the Bronx.