UNION, N.J. (November 9, 2022)  – Junior Elissa Nsenkyire poured in a career-high 28 points to lead the Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team to a 76-60 victory over Kean University Wednesday in a non-conference matchup at Harwood Arena. 

Graduate student Jess Broad added 10 points and seven rebounds and first-year Leyla Castro flirted with a triple-double with 13 points, seven assists and five rebounds in her collegiate debut for the Ducks, who moved to 1-0. Excluding the pandemic-shortened 2020-2021 season, the Ducks have now won three of their last four season openers. 

Preseason Third Team All-American Shannon McCoy had 24 points and Shahd Badeer came off the bench to add 11 points and a game-high 19 rebounds to lead Kean, who dropped its season opener for the third straight season in falling to 0-1. Stevens has won the last two meetings between programs.

Nsenkyire shot an efficient 9 for 14 from the floor, including 3 for 5 from behind the arc, while also making 7 of 11 from the line, to easily surpass her previous career high of 16. The Hillsborough, New Jersey native also nabbed a career-best four steals, while also dishing out three assists. Nsenkyire did most of her damage in the first half, scoring 17 of her 28 points.

After holding a three-point lead at halftime, the Ducks turned the pressure, both on offense and on defense, in the second half. The Ducks broke the game open converting 14 of their 32 (44%) attempts from the floor, while holding the Cougars to 26% (9 for 34), which included a 3 for 14 performance (21%) from behind the arc. The Ducks also forced 14 of Kean's 23 turnovers across the final 20 minutes, including eight in the fourth quarter.

After a basket by Kean's Darrique Smith cut the Ducks' lead to 60-53, Castro beat the third-quarter buzzer with a short jumper to send the teams into the final period with a nine-point lead. The Ducks would carry the momentum from Castro's basket into the fourth quarter as they held Kean off the board for nearly five minutes and swelled their lead to 16 in the process.

Stevens continued the strong defensive effort down the stretch, holding Kean scoreless over the final 3:09 to close out the victory.

The contest marked the collegiate debuts for Castro and fellow first-years Olivia Schubiger and Dorothy Loffredo.

Pivotal Point

• Kean's Macy Seaman converted an offensive rebound into a layup to bring Kean within two (42-40) early in the third quarter. 
• Nsenkyire quickly came down the floor and hit a short jumper to put the Ducks back in front by two possessions. 
• The basket sparked a 6-0 run, with points from three different players, to push the Ducks' advantage to six points. The two-point differential that preceded the run was as close as the Cougars would get over the remainder of the game.

Inside the Numbers

• Stevens finished the night shooting 45.3% from the field, while holding Kean to 31.5.
• Kean finished with a 54-45 edge in rebounding, although the Ducks had the advantage on the defensive glass, pulling 29 versus 24 for Kean. Graduate student Amber Porrett paced the Ducks with 10 rebounds, including seven on the offensive glass.
• Senior Danielle Cornetta finished with a game-high three blocks to help Stevens to five on the night. The Whitehouse Station, New Jersey native also nabbed three steals and pulled down nine boards.
• The Ducks totaled 12 steals.
• The Ducks made 15 free throws, while Kean had seven.
• Stevens' starting lineup of Porrett, Broad, Castro, Nsenkyire and Cornetta finished a game-high +12. Interestingly, the group also totaled 16 rebounds, which was the most of any other lineup combination of either team.
• The Ducks led wire to wire.

From the Court - Head Coach Megan Haughey

• "I thought our entire team stayed poised and focused on getting stops and surviving their runs. I am proud of our grit and fight tonight."

Up Next

• Women's basketball travels to York, Pennsylvania on Nov. 12 for the Spartans' Coaches vs. Cancer Classic.
• The Ducks will take on Catholic University in the opening game.
• A link for live video is posted to StevensDucks.com.

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