ALLENTOWN, Pa. (January 18, 2016) – The Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team fell to No. 9/11 Muhlenberg College 74-54 in non-conference action Monday night.

The Mules (12-1) raced out to a quick 9-0 lead before senior Dylan Krause hit a lay-up to open the scoring for the Ducks (10-5). After senior Miranda Ripken converted a lay-up, the hosts tallied the next 16 points bridging the first and second quarters.

Ripken and classmate Kaitlyn Astel scored the final five points of the second frame to cut the deficit under 20, but the Mules connected on a trey with one second left in the half to extend the lead to 20 entering halftime. Muhlenberg shot 43.6% from the field in the opening half, to the Ducks 27.8%. 

After giving up the first two points from the charity stripe to open the final stanza, the Ducks went on a 7-0 run, capped up off with a jumper from junior Erica Guketlov. On back-to-back possessions with just under three minutes left, sophomore Sydney Darby and junior Daphne Ginn connected on consecutive attempts from behind the arc, but the lead was too much to overcome. 

Darby had the hot hand tonight, pouring in a season-best 17 points on 5-of-6 shooting from three. Astel and Ginn each finished with nine points, while sophomore Anna Toke pulled down 13 rebounds.

Brandi Vallely recorded a triple-double of 16 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists to lead the Mules, while Christina Santone had 11 points, six blocks and five boards, Muhlenberg placed four players in double-digits.

The Ducks return home Friday to take on Nazareth College at 8 p.m.

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