LAS VEGAS, Nev. (December 29, 2016)  – A cold stretch in the first quarter put the Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team in an early deficit and the Ducks were never able to recover, falling to the Lewis and Clark College Pioneers, 58-49, in the final game of the D3Hoops.com Classic at the South Point Hotel and Events Center Thursday.

Junior Megan Brown recorded her fifth double-double of the season with 13 points and 12 rebounds and graduate student Kaitlyn Astel had eight points and nine rebounds to lead Stevens. 

Miyah Leith led three Pioneers in double figures with a game-high 17 points and Ayisat Afolabi had 11 points and a game-high 14 rebounds as Lewis and Clark improved to 8-2.

Twenty-four hours after combining strong shooting and tight defense to open a 14-7 lead after one quarter against the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, the Ducks shot 2-for-12 and committed five turnovers over the game's first ten minutes to fall behind 14-5 after the first quarter, in falling to 1-6.

Stevens rebounded from its early woes to trim the Lewis and Clark lead to a single point in the third quarter, but the Pioneers sank seven free throws in the game's final minute to seal the victory.

Turning Point

• Leith's first basket opened the game's scoring at 8:49 of the opening period.
• Sophomore Elena Sanchez drained her only three-point field goal of the game to give Stevens its only lead (3-2).
• After the teams alternated missed shots over the next 3:55, Janessa Willie reclaimed the lead for the Pioneers with a layup.
• The basket sparked a 10-2 run to close the quarter as the Lewis and Clark pulled ahead 14-5.
• Stevens continued to chip away at the lead, pulling to within one (39-38) in the third quarter after Alison Criswell's three-pointer.
• The Ducks would not get any closer as Lewis and Clark scored the game's next six points to reclaim a seven-point advantage.

Inside the Numbers

• Stevens held a rebounding edge (42-36) for the second consecutive game.
• The extra effort on the offensive boards did not provide an advantage for the Ducks. Both teams had eight second-chance points.
• Fourteen Lewis and Clark steals led to a season-high 20 turnovers for Stevens.
• The 20 turnovers led to 21 points for the Pioneers. Stevens turned 11 Lewis and Clark turnovers into only five points.
• The Ducks shot 33% from the field for the second straight game. 

Unsung Heroes

• Brown's double-double was the 15th of her career. 
• Senior Daphne Ginn sparked the Ducks with five points, one rebound and one steal in 15 minutes off the bench. The guard sank all three of her free throw attempts.
• Criswell scored a career-high eight points in 14 minutes off the bench, including her first collegiate points in the third quarter.

Haughey's Thoughts

• "I thought that our offensive stagnation made it very difficult to get easy baskets."
• "I thought we did a good job on the boards, which was a goal."
• "Overall, we need to play a 40 minute, intense game."
• "I was proud of the fight in our girls, especially from our bench."
• "Megan Brown played with overall intensity and energy and plays 40 minutes with unbelievable heart."

Up Next

• Stevens opens up 2017 with an Empire 8 conference matchup with Utica College on January 3. The game will mark the conference opener for both teams. 
• The Ducks won both meetings with the Pioneers last season, including a 69-61 victory at Utica on Feb. 13, 2016.
• In a scheduling oddity, the Ducks will play back-to-back games against programs that use the Pioneer as a mascot, although the respective schools (Lewis and Clark and Utica) are separated by 2,834.1 miles.
• Live stats and video links are available at StevensDucks.com

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