Box Score HOBOKEN, N.J. (February 24, 2017)  – Junior Megan Brown scored four consecutive points over the game's final twenty-three seconds sending the top-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team back to the Empire 8 Conference Championship game with a 62-58 victory over the fourth-seeded St. John Fisher Cardinals.

Brown, named Empire 8 Defensive Player of the Year Thursday, finished the game with 14 points and nine rebounds and forced a key turnover to preserve the victory. Junior Anna Toke recorded her fourth double-double with 15 points and a game-high 11 boards and graduate student Kaitlyn Astel also scored 15 for the Ducks, who improved to 16-9. 
 
Emily Piacentini led all players with 21 points and Maria Kelleher added 10 points on 3-of-7 shooting for the Cardinals, who closed their 2016-17 campaign at 12-14.

Turning Point

• After leading by as many as 13, the Ducks watched as the Cardinals slowly chipped away at their deficit.
• Fisher forced a tie at 58 after four straight points by Kelleher. The senior was fouled on a three-point attempt and made one of her three free throws. Caroline Robertson pulled down the offensive rebound and fed Kelleher for a long three that drew St. John Fisher even.
• After a Stevens timeout, Brown calmly converted a layup to reclaim the lead.
• Fisher called a timeout of their own and elected to advance the ball.
• Off the timeout, Brown deftly knocked the ball away from Erin Hulbert and was immediately fouled.
• The junior forward sank the second of her two free throws to give Stevens a three-point lead.
• A fired-up defense forced a wild Piacentini three that Brown snagged off the glass for her ninth rebound and was again immediately fouled.
• The Laurel, Maryland native sank the first of her two attempts, propelling the Ducks to victory.

Inside the Numbers

• Stevens had the edge in points in the paint and fast-break points.
• The tied score at 58 was the game's second tie. The first occurred at 8:34 of the first quarter after Brown's first basket of the game knotted the score at 2.
• Stevens attempted a season-high 32 free throws.
• Stevens was outrebounded for only the sixth time this season.

Unsung Hero

• Brooke Stoddard sank a pair of baskets and grabbed four rebounds. The junior forward has provided a steady post presence off the bench.
• Sophomore Elena Sanchez nailed a pair of third-quarter threes and assisted on senior Erica Guketlov's fourth-quarter triple.

Haughey's Thoughts

• "I was proud of our intensity down the stretch."
• "Meg Brown stepped out with a big bucket and free throws and we got a stop on the defensive end of the floor, which was huge."

Up Next

• Stevens will host the second-seeded Ithaca College Bombers in the E8 Championship.
• The teams split the season series with each team winning on its home floor.
• Ithaca earned the right to face the Ducks after downing Hartwick, 63-55.
• The Ducks will be looking for their second straight E8 championship.
• Live stats and video links will be available at StevensDucks.com.

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