HOBOKEN, N.J. (January 17, 2017)  – Graduate student Kaitlyn Astel scored 23 points and pulled down a career-high 18 rebounds, senior Erica Guketlov scored a season-best 14 points and junior Megan Brown notched her eighth double-double of the season, as the Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team defeated Ithaca College, 74-53, in an Empire 8 Conference matchup Tuesday.

Astel, the reigning E8 Player of the Year shot 10-for-18 from the field, including a blistering 8-for-12 in the first half, as the Ducks opened a 41-30 lead at halftime and then pulled away in the second half to earn their third straight victory. Stevens improve to 6-7 on the season and 5-1 in conference play.

Julie Yacovoni and Erin Ferguson each had ten points for the Bombers, who fell to 11-3 on the season and 3-2 in the E8.

Turning Point

• Although Astel, Brown and Guketlov powered Stevens to an 11-point advantage at the half, it was a 20-3 third quarter effort from the Ducks that put the game out of reach.
• The Ducks opened the second half by scoring the first six points of the third quarter.
• A Brown layup, an Astel free throw and a Guketlov three gave Stevens a 47-30 edge.
• Erin Ferguson scored Ithaca's only basket in the third quarter to pull the Bombers within 15.
• Alison Criswell answered Ferguson's basket with a three-pointer, sparking a 12-0 run as the Ducks opened a 27-point lead.
• Yacovoni would convert a free throw with 46 seconds remaining in the third for Ithaca's only other point in the frame.
• Strong defense forced Ithaca into shooting 1-for-16 from the field (6.3%) in a three-point third quarter.

Inside the Numbers

• Stevens held Ithaca 32 points below its season average
• The Ducks scored 74 points against the second stingiest defense in the conference.
• Stevens has shot 50% or better from the field in three consecutive games.
• Owners of the stingiest defense in the conference, the Ducks held an opponent under 50 points for the fourth time this season.
• Astel's reached double figures for the 11th time this season, including six efforts of 20 points or more.
• Ten different players grabbed a rebound as Stevens held a 54-29 edge on the boards.
• The leading rebounder in the conference, Brown finished with 10 points and 13 rebounds, recording 10 boards in the first half alone.
• Tonight's win was the fourth straight in the series with Ithaca.
• Over her last three games, Astel has drained five consecutive three-point baskets.
• The Ducks held a 17-3 edge in second-chance points, the largest margin for Stevens this season.
• Ithaca's only lead came off the opening basket of the game. Stevens led by as many as 35 in the fourth period.

Unsung Heroes

• Sophomore Elena Sanchez came off the bench to score eight points on 3-of-4 shooting. Sanchez also sank both of her three-point attempts and added four rebounds.
• Junior Anna Toke filled the box score with eight points, five rebounds, two assists and two blocks.
• Guketlov sank all four of her field-goal attempts from inside the arc.

Haughey's Thoughts

• "Our motto was to just play and that is exactly what we did tonight."
• "We wanted to be the best version of us."

Up Next

• The Ducks hit the road for a two-game road trip against Nazareth College and St. John Fisher College, January 20-21.
• Live stats and video links are available at StevensDucks.com

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