DALLAS, Pa. (February 12, 2022)  – Senior Jess Broad scored a game-high 23 points, but the Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team fell to Misericordia University 56-51 Saturday in a MAC Freedom contest at the Anderson Sports Center.

Senior Allie Moss had 11 points and four assists for the Ducks, who fell to 16-5 on the year and to 11-3 in league play. The Ducks have clinched the #2 seed in the postseason tournament and will host a quarterfinal matchup at Canavan Arena on Feb. 23. 

Melina Santacroce led three Cougars in double figures with 15 points, while also pulling down a game-high 10 rebounds as Misericordia moved to 13-10 on the year and to 8-6 in the MAC Freedom. The Cougars have won three straight to move within a game of third-place King's in the conference standings with two games remaining, although the Monarchs hold the head-to-head tiebreaker.

Broad made 10 of her 16 attempts from the floor and finished with her third 20-point effort of the season. The senior went 6 for 11 and grabbed five rebounds in the first half and then shot 4 for 5 in the second half with four boards. Broad has shot 60% or better five times this season and ranks second in the conference in field-goal percentage.

The Ducks opened strong, making their first two shots of the game, including a 3-pointer by Moss to take an early 5-4 lead. Stevens would outscore Misericordia 18-12 in the opening quarter and 11-5 in the second to open a double-digit halftime lead. The Ducks would hold Misericordia to a single field goal over the final nine minutes of the second quarter.

Moss and Broad combined to score the first four points of the third quarter to give the Ducks their largest lead of the contest at 33-17. However, the Cougars turned in their best offensive effort of the game in the third quarter, shooting 8 for 17 from the floor and 5 of 6 from the line to outscore Stevens 22-12 and pull within two at the start of the fourth quarter.

The teams would trade baskets over the first several possessions of the final period before Misericordia jumped in front for good on a 3-pointer by Alyssa Bondi that gave the home team a 45-43 lead. Bondi would go 3 for 4 from the line in the final 30 seconds to seal the victory. Misericordia has won four of the five all-time meetings between the teams.

Pivotal Point

• Sophomore Elissa Nsenkyire went 1 for 2 from the line to pull the Ducks within one at 49-48 with just under five minutes left in regulation. 
• The Ducks had three chances to jump back in front, but Santacroce scored on a pass from Jordan Postiglione to push the Cougars' advantage to three with just over three minutes left in the contest.

Inside the Numbers

• Stevens outshot Misericordia 43.8% to 35.7%. 
• A staunch Stevens defense held the Cougars to 2 for 12 (16.7%) shooting in the second quarter.
• Each side finished with three 3-point baskets.
• Misericordia outrebounded the Ducks 35-33, however the Cougars held an 11-4 edge on the offensive glass. The disparity in offensive rebounds helped Misericordia gain an 11-2 advantage in second-chance points.
• Broad and Moss led the Ducks with four assists. Morgan Haefele led both teams with seven helpers. Broad also rejected a team-high two shots.
• Stevens went 6 for 7 from the line with Broad finishing a perfect 3 for 3 and Nsenkyire going 3 for 4.
• Each team had 32 points in the paint. 
• The Ducks held a 9-7 edge in fast-break points.
• Senior Amber Porrett drew her first start of the season and first since Feb. 12, 2020.
• Each team's longest scoring run was exactly nine points.

Up Next

• Women's basketball continues MAC Freedom play on Feb. 15 at FDU-Florham.
• The Ducks have won the last seven meetings between the teams, including a 77-26 victory at Canavan Arena on Jan. 19.
• Links for live stats and video are available on StevensDucks.com.

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