HOBOKEN, N.J. (DECEMBER 9, 2015) – Senior Kaitlyn Astel scored a career-high 27 points to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team to a 64-53 win over DeSales University Wednesday.

The Ducks won their fourth in a row, and moved to 4-3, while the Bulldogs fell to 4-3.

Stevens opened the contest on a 6-0 run, with Astel and junior Erica Guketlov connecting on three point attempts. The Ducks limited DeSales to six points, and scored the final four points on layups by junior Ruth Waters and senior Miranda Ripken. 

A three point shot by Kaitlin Kelly bought the game to a tie at 20-20, but Stevens closed the second quarter out with a 15-4 run, as Astel and sophomore Megan Brown combined for 13 of the 15 points over the final 4:12.

Brown had a layup 2:32 into the third frame to give the Ducks a 14 points lead, their biggest lead of the evening. Nikki Callahan connected on a pair of free throws with 1:27 to go to trim the deficit down to 10 points to end the third quarter.

The Bulldogs were pesky and scored the first five points of the final stanza, as Sterner once again knocked down a trey. Astel and Morgan McCollian traded layups, and Sterner hit a runner in the lane to cut down the lead to three. A layup up by Astel countered ended the threat, and a trey by Guketlov with 2:26 left reaffirmed the double-digit lead. 

Astel scored the final five points for the Ducks, who also received 13 points, five rebounds and five helpers from Guketlov. Brown had a double-double with 10 points and 12 boards, with senior Dylan Krause chipping in a season-best 12 rebounds.

McCollian led the way with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Sterner finished with 10 points.

The Ducks close out 2015 with one final home game against No. 11/13 Montclair State University on Saturday at 1 p.m. The athletic department is holding a toy drive and ask that fans bring new, unwrapped toys to be donated to the Jubilee Center of Hoboken,

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