HOBOKEN, N.J. (January 25, 2023) – Junior Elissa Nsenkyire scored 13 of her team-high 19 points in the second half as No. 18 Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball pulled away from Delaware Valley University in the second half for a 70-54 victory Wednesday night in a MAC Freedom matchup at Canavan Arena.

Graduate student Jess Broad finished with 16 points and sophomore Lucy Alberici came off the bench with 12 for the Ducks, who improved to 16-3 on the year and to 9-1 in conference play. The victory moved Stevens a half-game ahead of idle DeSales, who plays at King's tomorrow evening.

Haley Keenan finished with a game-high 26 points, but had just seven in the second half, to lead Delaware Valley, who dropped its second straight in falling to 9-10 on the year and to 5-5 in league play. 

It was a tale of two halves for Stevens, who rallied from a four-point halftime deficit by outscoring Delaware Valley 39-19 across the final two quarters. Most impressively, the Ducks held Delaware Valley without a field goal (0 for 11 from the field, including 0 for 3 from behind the arc) in the fourth quarter to seal the victory. It marked the second time this season that Stevens has held an opponent without a field goal in a quarter. All of the Aggies' six fourth-quarter points came from the line. 

As the Ducks were clamping down defensively in holding the Aggies to just 19.2% shooting in the second half, while also forcing 15 Delaware Valley turnovers, they also improved their offensive efficiency over the same stretch, using identical 7 for17 performances from the floor to retake the lead. But perhaps more importantly, however, the Ducks took better care of the ball, finishing with three second half turnovers, including just one in the final period.

Nsenkyire paced the Ducks in the third quarter, scoring eight of the team's 21 points, while Broad was the offensive catalyst in the fourth, matching Nsenkyire with eight points over the final 10 minutes. 

After hitting a pair of third quarter free throws to give the Ducks their first lead since the opening period, Alberici stripped Maisie Neuber, which led to a fast-break layup for Nsenkyire. The sequence was part of a 12-6 run that gave the Ducks a four-point lead heading into the final quarter.

Keenan would hit two free throws to open the scoring in the final period, but the Ducks responded with five straight points, including a 3-point play from Broad, which pushed the advantage to two possessions. Keenan made 1 of 2 from the line, but those points would be the last for Delaware Valley for nearly six minutes as the Ducks opened up as much as a 14-point lead to close out the come-from-behind victory.

After she scored 19 points on 7 for 12 shooting, including sinking her only three, the Ducks held Keenan to just 2 for 8 shooting in the second half to go along with four turnovers. Both of Keenan's second half field goals came in the third quarter and she didn't have a basket over the final 13 minutes.

Pivotal Point

• Over the final 6:36, the Ducks outscored Delaware Valley 13-3 and did not commit a turnover in closing out the 16-point win.

Inside the Numbers

• Delaware Valley won the battle of the boards, 42-41, although the Ducks had a 15-12 edge on the offensive glass. The edge in offensive rebounds helped the Ducks to 14-10 edge in second-chance points.
• Graduate student Amber Porrett led both teams with 10 rebounds. The Dumont, New Jersey native continues to lead the MAC Freedom with 9.7 boards, which would be the best season average by a Duck since 2018-19. Alexis Wright and Taylor Richardson each pulled down nine to pace Delaware Valley.
• Stevens turned 26 Delaware Valley turnovers into 24 points.
• Broad blocked four shots, while Porrett and senior Danielle Cornetta each rejected one.
• Alberici led all players with a career-high five steals. 
• The Ducks shot 7 for 17 in the first, second and fourth quarters.
• First-year Sammy Shea drew her first career start and finished with five points.

Up Next

• Women's Basketball continues MAC Freedom play with a road tilt at Wilkes on Jan. 28. 
• The Ducks defeated the Colonels 66-39 inside Canavan Arena on Jan. 4 and have won four of the five all-time meetings between the teams.
• Links for live stats and video are posted to StevensDucks.com.

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