HOBOKEN, N.J. (February 22, 2023) – Graduate student Jess Broad had 24 points and nine rebounds as No. 21 Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball defeated Misericordia University 66-55 Wednesday night in a MAC Freedom semifinal at Canavan Arena.

First-year Leyla Castro filled the stat sheet with 12 points, six rebounds and a career-high seven steals for the Ducks, who won their second straight in moving to 22-4. The Ducks' 22 victories are tied for the third-most in program history and the second-most under current head coach Megan Haughey.

Stevens advanced to the MAC Freedom title game for the second straight season, where they will again face top-seeded No. 9/8 DeSales. The Bulldogs rallied from a halftime deficit to defeat fifth-seeded Arcadia University 64-54. DeSales has won the last four conference championships. The teams split two meetings this year by a combined total of just 12 points.

Meaghan McCaffrey had a game-high 28 points and Gianna Delfino pulled down a game-high 17 rebounds for Misericordia, who dropped to 18-8. The Ducks' victory snapped the Cougars' two-game winning streak.

The Ducks built an early lead on the strength of a strong defensive effort that held Misericordia to just 2 for 17 shooting, including 0 for 11 from behind the arc. Junior Elissa Nsenkyire scored the first points of the game on a fast-break layup after the Hillsborough, New Jersey native stripped Delfino, which led to the easy score. Melina Santacroce answered for the Cougars and McCaffrey sank a pair from the line to give Misericordia a slim lead. 

First-year Dorothy Loffredo answered with two from the line, but Alyssa Bondi hit a long jumper after an offensive rebound to put Misericordia in front with 5:22 left in the first quarter. The basket would be Misericordia's final one in the period as the Ducks held the Cougars to just three points over the next 5:52, crossing into the second quarter to jump back in front for good. Loffredo completed a three-point play to begin the run and Broad had the Ducks' next six points as Stevens took a 13-9 lead into the second quarter.

Broad paced the Ducks in the first half, scoring eight points and snagging six rebounds. The Morganville, New Jersey native shot 4 for 6 from the field across the game's first 20 minutes. However, the fifth-year player was on a different level in the second half, going 7 for 10 from the field and 2 for 2 from the line to score 16 points to finish with her seventh game of the season with at least 20 points. Her 24-point performance pushed Broad across 1,500 career points.

The Cougars reeled off nine straight points in the final quarter to trim the Ducks' lead from 14 to five, but Broad, who seemingly ended every Misericordia run with a corner jumper, did so again to push the lead back to seven. Castro answered McCaffrey's layup with a driving layup of her own and the Ducks went 5 for 6 from the line in the final 1:23 to seal the victory. 

Stevens held Misericordia to 35% shooting for the game, but that number included a 4 for 31 (12.9%) performance from behind the arc. Conversely, the Ducks shot more than 40% from the floor in each of the final three quarters to secure the win.

Inside the Numbers

• Behind Delfino, Misericordia won the battle of the boards, 46-38 and turned 21 offensive rebounds into 23 second-chance points. 
• Stevens pulled down 19 rebounds on both the offensive and defensive glass.
• The Ducks forced 26 Misericordia turnovers and turned them into 32 points. 
• Stevens committed just five second-half turnovers.
• Broad and senior Danielle Cornetta each blocked one shot. Misericordia did not record any rejections.
• Stevens scored 14 fast-break points, while not allowing any.

Up Next

• Women's Basketball heads to Center Valley, Pennsylvania on Feb. 25 to take on DeSales in the MAC Freedom Championship game.
• The teams split their two meetings this season, with each team winning on its home floor. 
• Links for live stats and video are posted to StevensDucks.com.

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