MADISON, N.J. - Senior forward Vanessa Williams (Forest Hills, N.Y./Townsend Harris) scored a season-high 20 points and pulled down nine rebounds to lead Stevens Institute of Technology to a 77-70 win over Drew University on Monday in a women's basketball game at Baldwin Gym.
Stevens earned its third straight win, improving to 8-9 overall. Drew falls to 10-9.
In a close second half that featured six ties and three lead changes, Stevens took the lead for good in the final two minutes. A pair of free throws by Lauren Aliano pulled Drew even at 67-67 with 1:35 left. Stevens took the lead on a basket by junior guard Aracely Cruz (Union City, N.J./Union Hill) with 1:17 left. The Ducks then scored their final eight points from the free throw line. Following a Ranger turnover, senior guard Mia Molfino (Ellicott City, Md./Mount Hebron) made the first free three in a one-and-one but missed the second with 1:05 left. Williams grabbed the offensive rebound and was fouled. She also made the first free throw, giving Stevens a 71-67 lead with 1:04 left.
Stevens sealed the win when freshman forward Emily Weaver (Prince Frederick, Md./Calverton School) converted four straight free throws with in the final minute. Her two free throws with 31 seconds left put the Ducks ahead 74-67. After Drew pulled within 74-70 on a 3-pointer by Sarah Marquez, Weaver hit another pair of free throws with 24 seconds left.
The Ducks shot a season-high 52.9 percent (27-for-51) for the game, including 58.3 percent in the first half. Stevens had five players finish in double figures. Cruz, Molfino and Weaver scored 13 points each while sophomore forward Lauren Bialko (Cedar Grove, N.J./Cedar Grove) scored 10 points. Molfino, who raised her career-point total to 991, is looking to become the fourth 1,000-point scorer in the program's history. Cruz had a team-high six assists.
Marquez led all scorers with 24 points for Drew while Aliano added 20 points off the bench.
Stevens looks to extend its winning streak to four game on Wednesday, February 5, with a 7 p.m. game at Kings Point.
