HOBOKEN, N.J. (January 17, 2024) - Sophomore Leyla Castro scored 10 points and added three steals as the Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team fell to No. 20/20 DeSales 68-48 in MAC Freedom play Wednesday night inside Canavan Arena.

The Ducks (7-9, 2-3 MAC Freedom) have now lost six-straight home games dating back to December 2. They have also dropped two of their last three games. DeSales has now won three-straight games in the series. With the victory, the Bulldogs remain undefeated in conference play and first in the MAC Freedom standings. Stevens remains in sixth. The top four teams qualify for the MAC Freedom Tournament.

In what was a low scoring first quarter, Castro scored the first three points of the game as the Ducks got out to the early lead. With 5:31 on the clock, sophomore Dorothy Loffredo made a jumper that gave the Ducks a 7-3 lead. The Bulldogs cut into the lead, but sophomore Olivia Schubiger restored the three-point advantage with a basket at the 2:20 mark to put Stevens up 10-7. First-year Kay Decker made the final two field goals of the quarter as the Ducks led 14-8 after one. To start the second, Castro made another shot that pushed the Ducks' lead to eight, their largest of the game. Castro also made the final shot of the quarter with two seconds left. However, the frame belonged to the Bulldogs as they scored 22 points to just 12 for Stevens, as DeSales held a 30-26 lead at halftime.

The Bulldogs opened the third with a triple, but the Ducks responded quickly with a three from Schubiger. DeSales then made the next two baskets, but Loffredo quickly answered to get two of those points back. The Bulldog lead would grow to 11 at the 6:17 mark. The two teams traded baskets for most of the third quarter, with DeSales going up by as many as 14 points. Castro made the Ducks' first triple of the game at the 2:35 mark, but it was the Bulldogs leading 52-38 with one quarter to go. DeSales continued their success in the fourth quarter, as they led by as much as 23 in the frame. The Ducks only scored 10 points in the final quarter, three of which came on one basket from sophomore Isabella Duval.

Top Performers

• Loffredo scored eight points and had eight rebounds.
• Decker scored eight points and added four boards.
• Sophomore Sophia Bica scored six points and had seven rebounds.
• Schubiger also added six points.
• Junior Lucy Alberici had two points and two steals.
• Stevens shot 35.4 percent (17-48) from the field and 42.9 percent (3-7) from three. The Ducks also shot 45.8 percent (11-24) from the line.

The Opponent

• Mikaela Reese scored 21 points and had five boards.
• Olivia Scotti scored 12 points and had 15 rebounds.
• Megan Bealer tallied 15 points and 10 rebounds.
• DeSales shot 36.9 percent (24-65) from the field and 15.0 percent (3-20) from three. They also went 17-24 from the free throw line (70.8%).

Around the MAC Freedom

• Arcadia 63, Misericordia 49
• Lebanon Valley 55, FDU-Florham 54
• Delaware Valley 72, King's 59

Up Next: Women's basketball continues conference play at home Saturday as they host FDU-Florham. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Ducks are 11-3 all-time against the Devils, and have won the last 10 contests between the teams. In last year's home contest against FDU-Florham, Sophia Bica scored 14 points and had 14 rebounds to help lead Stevens to a 73-46 victory. Links for live stats and video are posted to stevensducks.com