HOBOKEN, N.J. – Senior guard Aracely Cruz (Union City, N.J./Union Hill) had 21 points, six rebounds and a school record 11 steals to lead Stevens Institute of Technology to a 56-44 win over Centenary College on Tuesday night in a Skyline Conference women’s basketball game at the Canavan Arena.

Centenary (3-14, 1-8 Skyline) held a 9-4 lead following a free throw by sophomore guard Ariel Hausmann with 14:04 left in the first half.  Stevens (10-9, 5-3 Skyline) used a 10-2 run over the next five minutes to take the lead for good.  Cruz had four points, including a layup with 9:41 left that put the Ducks ahead 15-11.  Following a basket by Centenary senior forward Angie Fredrick, Stevens used an 8-0 run to extend the lead to 23-13 with 7:13 remaining.  The Ducks held a 27-18 lead at the break.

Centenary pulled to within five points, 35-30, with 12:28 left in the second half on a 3-pointer by junior guard Dana Tobia.  Cruz scored the next four points as Stevens pushed the lead back up to nine.  The Cyclones got no closer than seven points the rest of the way.

Sophomore forward Jenna Gambino (Staten Island, N.Y./St. John Villa Academy) added 13 points, four rebounds and four blocks off the bench for Stevens.  Junior forward Jaime Mehnert (Waldwick, N.J./Waldwick) had nine points and a team-leading seven rebounds.

Centenary held a 50-33 rebounding advantage, but the Cyclones shot just 27.9 percent (17-for-61) and committed 24 turnovers.  Senior guard Solaris Ortiz led Centenary with 13 points and 11 rebounds.

Stevens returns to action on Thursday, February 5, when it hosts the College of St. Elizabeth in a 7 p.m. game at the Canavan Arena.