CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (February 14, 2023) – Graduate student Jess Broad had 19 points and seven rebounds but No. 14 Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball fell to No. 9/8 DeSales University 61-50 Tuesday night in a MAC Freedom matchup at Billera Hall.

Sophomore Lucy Alberici came off the bench to score 13 points and graduate student Amber Porrett had 15 rebounds and a blocked shot for the Ducks, who saw their five-game winning streak come to an end in falling to 20-4 on the year and to 13-2 in conference play.

Megan Bealer had a double-double with a game-high 25 points and 12 boards to lead three players in double-figures for DeSales, who won its eighth straight to move to 23-1 on the year and to 14-1 in the MAC Freedom.

The victory clinched the top overall seed in the MAC Freedom Tournament for DeSales, with Stevens getting locked into the second seed. Misericordia will play at Canavan Arena on Feb. 22 with a tip time yet to be announced. 

After a sluggish start that saw DeSales open as much as a 14-point lead in the first quarter, the Ducks shot a scorching 63.6% from the floor (7 for 11) in the second quarter, including 3 for 4 from behind the arc to take a three-point lead into the intermission. Junior Elissa Nsenkyire led the offensive efforts with seven points, with Alberici adding five points by sinking her only field-goal attempt and going 2 for 2 from the line.

After the Bulldogs shot 50% in the opening quarter to build an early lead, the Ducks clamped down defensively and held DeSales to just 5 for 20 from the floor, including 0 for 7 from behind the arc. With DeSales leading 26-22 with just under three minutes left in the half, Nsenkyire sank a long three and then scored on a driving layup to give Stevens its first lead. First-year Leyla Castro would find an open Alberici for a corner three to push the lead to four.

The teams traded baskets in the third quarter, with DeSales taking the lead on Maria Newsome's second-chance 3-pointer with 4:05 left in the frame. The Ducks would take advantage of a DeSales turnover, with senior Danielle Cornetta finding Broad for a long jumper that pulled Stevens within two. However, perhaps the biggest basket of the game followed, with Lindsey Welsh beating the third-quarter buzzer to push DeSales' lead back to five with the Bulldogs also starting the fourth with the ball.

Broad opened scoring in the final quarter with a pull-up jumper and later added a free throw that pulled Stevens within four. However, a 5-0 run pushed DeSales' lead to nine with just under five minutes left in regulation and the Ducks couldn't pull any closer than six over the remainder of the game.

Inside the Numbers

• Stevens outshot DeSales 33.9% to 32.8%, marking the fourth time this season that DeSales has been forced into a lower shooting percentage than its opponent.
• DeSales padded its lead by outscoring Stevens 14-4 from the line. The Bulldogs attempted 25 free throws against just six for the Ducks.
• DeSales outrebounded Stevens 48-39, including a 16-8 edge on the offensive glass. The advantage in offensive rebounding helped DeSales gain a 13-2 edge in second-chance points.
• DeSales did not receive a point off the bench.
• The Ducks finished with six 3's, while DeSales had five.
• Castro and Cornetta each dished out a team-leading three assists.
• Broad blocked two shots.
• Stevens held DeSales nearly 12 points under its season average.

Up Next

• Women's Basketball hosts Lycoming on Feb. 18 in the regular-season finale.
• Stevens won the last meeting between the teams 83-55 on Jan. 15 and have won all four meetings in the all-time series.
• Prior to the game, the women's basketball program will recognize its Class of 2023 in a pre-game ceremony.
• Links for live stats and video are posted to StevensDucks.com.

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