HOBOKEN, N.J. (January 3, 2024) - Junior Lucy Alberici scored a career-high 29 points, as well as securing nine rebounds and two steals, but it wasn't enough as the Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team lost to Lebanon Valley 64-60 after overtime to open up MAC Freedom play Wednesday evening inside Canavan Arena.

Alberici's 29 points are the most in a game by a Duck this season and the most since last season when Jess Broad '22 scored 28 against Lycoming on January 15th. The Ducks (5-7, 0-1 MAC Freedom) open up conference play with a loss and have now lost five-straight games after starting the season 5-1. The loss also marks the Ducks' fifth-straight home defeat of the season, falling to 2-5 in Hoboken. The conference-opening loss is the first for the Ducks since joining the MAC Freedom and the first since the 2012-13 campaign, when they were a member of the Empire 8 Conference. Stevens is now 0-1 all-time against the Dutchmen. With the win, the Lebanon Valley improved to 7-5 and 1-0 in conference play on the year.

After sophomore Leyla Castro scored the first two points of the game for the Ducks, Alberici scored the next six for the Ducks as the teams remained deadlocked at eight with 3:01 remaining in the first quarter. The Ducks rattled off the next four points as sophomore Dorothy Loffredo and Alberici each made baskets to extend the Duck lead to four. Stevens led 12-9 after one. The second quarter was a lot more difficult for the home side as they were only able to score six points in the frame. Lebanon Valley maintained a 30-18 lead at the break.

Stevens made the first two baskets out of the break but the Dutchmen answered with seven-straight points to open up a 15-point advantage. The visiting side held a double-digit advantage for all but a minute and 19 seconds in the third quarter, but Alberici did her best to keep Stevens in the game, as she scored eight points in the frame. The Dutchmen led by 11 heading into the fourth. Alberici scored the first four points in the fourth followed by a layup by Loffredo as the Ducks were able to claw within six. After Lebanon Valley made a three to go up nine, Stevens responded with seven of their own to trim the deficit to two. Finally with 1:13 to go, Castro made a driving layup to tie the game at 53 and erase what was a 17-point deficit. Neither team would score in the remaining time as the game headed to overtime locked at 53.

The Dutchmen scored the first seven points of overtime and the Ducks would never recover after exerting so much energy in their comeback. Castro kept things close at the end as she made a three with 21 seconds showing on the clock to get within two, but the Dutchmen made their free throws to secure the 64-60 victory.

Top Performers

• Alberici's nine rebounds were tied for her second-most in a game this season.
• Castro dropped 17 points while picking up six boards and five assists.
• Loffredo scored six points and added seven rebounds.
• First-year Paige Gorczyca and sophomore Sophia Bica each had five rebounds.
• Stevens shot 30.7 percent (23-75) from the field and 25.0 percent (3-12) from three. The Ducks also shot 61.1 percent (11-18) from the line.

The Opponent

• Riley Hevelow scored 18 points and grabbed eight rebounds.
• Brielle Reidinger tallied 18 rebounds.
• Kate Fitzpatrick scored 14 points and had four assists.
• Cristina Fernandez totaled 10 points and seven rebounds.
• Lebanon Valley shot 35.4 percent (23-65) from the field and 26.1 percent (6-23) from three. They also went 12-14 from the free throw line (85.7%).

Around the MAC Freedom

• Arcadia 46, Ursinus 45 F/SUN
• Misericordia 36, Delaware Valley 62
• Arcadia 36, DeSales 74
• FDU-Florham 64, King's 61

Up Next: Women's basketball continues conference play on Saturday as they visit Misericordia. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. The Ducks are 3-5 all-time against the Cougars, including winning last year's home matchup. Leyla Castro scored 12 points and had six assists in the contest. Links for live stats and video are posted to stevensducks.com