CENTER VALLEY, Pa. (February 25, 2023) – Graduate student Jess Broad had a team-high 17 points, but No. 9 Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team fell to No. 9/8 DeSales University 59-36 Saturday in the MAC Freedom title game at Billera Hall.

Graduate student Amber Porrett had six points and nine rebounds and sophomore Lucy Alberici came off the bench with six points for the Ducks, who saw their two-game winning streak come to an end in falling to 22-5. The Ducks will now await word to see if they earn a Pool "C" at-large bid to the 2023 NCAA Division III Women's Basketball Championship in Monday's selection show, which is set to be broadcast on NCAA.com at 2:30 p.m. A total of 19 teams will receive a Pool "C" bid to the national tournament. If the Ducks received an at-large berth, it would be the second in program history and the first since 2015.

Abigail Rafferty had a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds and Megan Bealer had 13 and seven for DeSales, who won its 11th straight to improve to 26-1. The Bulldogs have won the last five MAC Freedom titles. Rafferty was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player after averaging 19 points, 11 rebounds and five assists over DeSales' victories over Arcadia and Stevens.

Senior Danielle Cornetta had the first points of the game on a fast-break layup after first-year Leyla Castro stripped Lindsey Welsh after DeSales won the opening tip. With two of the top scoring defenses in Division III playing one another, points were hard to come by in the early going. Following Cornetta's bucket, DeSales scored three possessions later on a second-chance basket by Bealer. The teams would remain deadlocked at two until Amelia Saunders hit a long three nearly three minutes later, to put DeSales in front. The Bulldogs scored seven straight points before Cornetta snapped the run with a free throw.

DeSales closed the first quarter on a 7-2 run, scoring on four straight in the final 100 seconds. The teams combined for 8 for 35 (23%) shooting over the first 10 minutes, which included just two baskets on 11 attempts (11%) from behind the arc. The teams also combined for 11 turnovers with Broad, Castro and Cornetta each nabbing one steal.

After closing with five straight points in the first quarter, DeSales scored the first seven points of the second quarter to take a double-digit lead. Trailing by 18 after a Bealer triple, the Ducks would answer with their longest run of the game – seven points – sparked by back-to-back layups from Alberici. The run drew Stevens within 11 after a free throw by junior Elissa Nsenkyire, but the Bulldogs scored the final three points of the half to take a 16-point lead into the intermission.

The third quarter saw the Ducks turn in their best statistical defensive performance, holding DeSales to just two field goals and 15% shooting. However, as poorly as the Bulldogs shot the ball in the period, they turned in their best performance from the line, making 9 of their 10 free throws. They were 1 for 6 across the other three periods. 

Broad had nine of the Ducks' points in the final quarter, shooting 4 for 6 from the field. 

Inside the Numbers

• DeSales held a 45-41 edge on the boards, including 14-8 on the offensive glass that helped the home team gain a 9-6 advantage in second-chance points.
• Porrett blocked two shots, while Cornetta and Alberici each had one. Rafferty and Mikaela Reese had three to lead the Bulldogs.
• Castro and Cornetta each dished out a team-high two assists. Bealer had a game-high four to lead DeSales.
• First-year Dorothy Loffredo finished with seven boards and finished with 14 rebounds in the conference tournament. 

Up Next

• Women's Basketball awaits Monday's selection show to learn its NCAA fate.

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