FOREST GROVE, Ore. (November 10, 2023) - Senior Elissa Nsenkyire scored a team high 19 points, while first-year Kay Decker recorded her first career double-double, as the Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team defeated Pacific University (OR) 73-66 Friday evening.

The Ducks (2-0) have won their first two games of the season for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign when the Ducks took three straight. It was the first matchup between the East coast based Ducks and the west coast based Boxers, who start the year 0-1.

Stevens once again got out to an early lead, scoring the first five points. Junior Lucy Alberici hit a three and Nsenkyire made a jumper to account for those points. The two teams hung tight throughout the first quarter as the score finished 22 all after one. Nsenkyire added a three and sophomore Dorothy Loffredo scored four in the frame. Up 26-25 in the second, Stevens hit back-to-back threes as Nsenkyire drained another while Decker also hit one from deep to give the Ducks their largest lead (7) up to that point. With just over a minute to go in the half, Nsenkyire continued her good run from deep as she hit another trifecta to put the Ducks up seven. The Boxers scored two points in the final minute as Stevens took a 37-33 lead into the break.

Points came at a premium to start the second half as each team only scored two points in the first three minutes of the third. Points would fly after that as Decker and sophomore Audrey Kehoe made buckets while senior Anika Damera hit a three. Stevens regained their seven point lead twice in the quarter but Pacific answered quickly each time. The Boxers would cut it down to four at the end of the third quarter as Stevens led 53-49. With 7:35 remaining in the game, Pacific took their first lead since the first quarter after hitting a three to take a 56-55 advantage. They would never lead again as the Ducks put on the clamps and closed out the road game. They went on a mini 7-2 run after losing the lead, as Decker made another three while Kehoe and sophomore Leyla Castro each made buckets. Up 62-58, Alberici and Nsenkyire made back-to-back threes for Stevens to take a ten point lead, their largest of the game. Stevens would hold off the Boxers to secure their second straight win to start the season, winning 73-66.

Top Performers

• Nsenkyire dropped a season high 19 points, shooting a career best 4/4 from three. She also added four assists.
• Decker recorded her first career double-double, scoring a career high 16 points and adding 11 rebounds. She was a career best 6/6 from the free throw line.
• Alberici scored 12 points and added six rebounds.
• Kehoe made a career high two blocks.
• Stevens shot 37.9 percent (25-66) from the field and 47.4 percent (9-19) from three. The Ducks also shot an impressive 82.4 percent (14-17) from the line.

The Opponent

• Brilie Kovaloff had a team high 14 points and grabbed six rebounds.
• Danica Schmidt had 10 rebounds.
• Alexis Intong recorded six points and added eight rebounds.
• Pacific shot 29.2 percent (21-72) from the field and 21.9 percent (7-32) from three. They also went 17-23 from the free throw line (73.9%).

Around the MAC Freedom

• Wilson 33, Misericordia 71 F/THUR
• Delaware Valley 47, Messiah 70

Up Next: The Ducks are back in action on Sunday for another game in Oregon as they take on George Fox University. The game is set for 5 p.m. EST and 2 p.m. local time. The Ducks are 1-0 all-time against George Fox, winning last year's matchup 73-46. Links for live stats and video are posted to stevensducks.com