LAS VEGAS, Nev. (December 28, 2016)  – Graduate student Kaitlyn Astel led all players with 20 points and 11 rebounds, junior Anna Toke recorded her second double-double of the season with 13 points and and 10 rebounds, and the Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team downed the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, 51-43, in the opening game of the D3Hoops.com Classic at the South Point Hotel and Events Center Wednesday evening.

Junior Brooke Stoddard grabbed a season-high seven rebounds off the bench, helping the Ducks outrebound the Blugolds, and sophomore Elena Sanchez added a season-high seven points in her first career start, as the Ducks improved to 1-5 on the season.

Kayla Hanley led the Blugolds with 16 points and 4 assists, however Stevens held Wisconsin-Eau Claire's leading scorer, Anna Graaskamp, scoreless in the first quarter as the Ducks opened a 14-7 lead. Graaskamp finished with 15 points and eight rebounds before fouling out. The loss was the fifth of the season for the Blugolds, who saw their record even at 5-5.

Turning Point

• Hanley's third field goal of the first quarter tied the game at 7 with 6:15 remaining in the opening quarter.
• The Ducks closed the frame on a 7-0 run, sparked by a pair of Astel jumpers and a Toke three-point play.
• Over the ensuing 6:15, an aggressive Stevens defense forced five missed shots and three turnovers.
• Graaskamp opened second-quarter scoring with a layup on the period's first possession.
• Stevens then held Wisconsin-Eau Claire scoreless over the next 4:33 util another Graaskamp layup trimmed the Ducks lead to 16-11.
• The Ducks would not allow another field goal for the remainder of the first half, taking a 20-12 lead into the intermission.

Inside the Numbers

• Stevens held a +15 edge in rebounds, including an 18-9 margin on the offensive glass.
• The effort on the boards paid off the the Ducks as the 18 offensive rebounds led to 12 second-chance points. Wisconsin-Eau Claire only had five.
• The 49 total rebounds matches the season-high for the Ducks. Stevens also pulled 49  boards against Nov. 15.
• The game was tied on only two occasions in the first quarter (5-5 and 7-7). Stevens never trailed at any point in the game.
• Stevens held Wisconsin-Eau Claire scoreless over four stretches over the first three quarters, totaling 19:28, as the Ducks built a double-digit lead.
• The Ducks held a 17-point lead in the fourth quarter, the team's largest lead at any point this season.
• Stevens allowed a season-low 43 points.

Unsung Heroes

• Kaitlyn Astel's 11 rebounds were the most for the guard since January 9, 2015, when she grabbed 14 boards against St. John Fisher.
• Anna Toke's 10-rebound performance was the 15th career double-digit rebounding effort for the forward, who entered the game 24th nationally in rebounding.
• Elena Sanchez played a career-high 34 minutes and sank two of her first three field goal attempts, helping the Ducks get off to a fast start.

Haughey's Thoughts

• "Our defensive effort and focus was excellent and that is what we continue to build on."
• "We controlled the boards on both ends and focused on the offensive boards, which came up big for us."

Up Next

• Stevens wraps up play at the D3Hoops.com Classic with a non-conference matchup against Lewis & Clark College on Thursday. The contest will also be the final game in 2016 for the Ducks.
• Live stats and video links are available at StevensDucks.com.

Facebook: "Like" Stevens Athletics         
Twitter: @stevensducks
Instagram: @stevensducks
Snapchat: ducks_athletics