DALLAS, Pa. (January 8, 2024) - Junior Lucy Alberici scored 14 points and added eight rebounds as the Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team defeated Misericordia 49-38 in MAC Freedom play Monday afternoon. The game was originally scheduled for Saturday but was moved due to Winter Storm Ember.

The Ducks (6-7, 1-1 MAC Freedom) earn their first conference victory of the season. The victory also ends a five-game skid for the Ducks. Stevens also improved to 4-2 on the road this season and is now 1-0 in road MAC Freedom games. With the loss, Misericordia dropped to 6-7 and 0-2 in conference play on the year.

Stevens didn't score for the first three and a half minutes until sophomore Dorothy Loffredo made two free throws from the stripe to get the Ducks on the board. Their defense held strong despite not scoring, as the score was just 3-2 in favor of the Cougars after the Loffredo free throws. The Ducks' first basket came at the 5:30 mark as junior Lucy Alberici made a layup. Sophomore Sophia Bica made a jumper to close the frame as the Ducks led 9-6 after the first. Stevens' run would extend to 11-3 to open the game as Castro made a jumper in the second quarter to cap off the run. Midway through the frame, Alberici made another layup as the Ducks saw their lead extend to seven. It would remain seven at the half, as the visitors led 22-15.

Both teams opened the second half the same way they opened the game as they continued to struggle to score in what became a defensive battle. Sophomore Olivia Schubiger converted a layup with 6:10 to go in the third that put Stevens up 27-17. Misericordia got to within four twice towards the end of the quarter, but Alberici and first-year Paige Gorczyca each answered with a jumper to push their lead back to six as the Ducks maintained a 33-27 advantage heading into the fourth. Stevens would score the next four points of the game to re-establish their lead back to ten. With the score 37-29, sophomore Leyla Castro made a triple to push the lead to 11, the largest of the game for the away side. The Cougars got to within five with under 2:30 to go, but the Ducks closed it out by making the last three field goals of the game to secure their first conference win of the season.

Top Performers

• Alberici also had two assists and three steals.
• Gorczyca scored 12 points and corralled six rebounds.
• Bica scored nine points and collected seven boards.
• Castro scored five points, had seven rebounds, and recorded four steals.
• Loffredo also added five points.
• Stevens shot 28.4 percent (19-67) from the field and 14.3 percent (1-7) from three. The Ducks also shot 62.5 percent (10-16) from the line.

The Opponent

• Skylar Dowling scored 12 points.
• Jocelyn Grosch scored seven points and had seven rebounds.
• Skylar Bianchi and Caitlin Landgraf also each added seven rebounds.
• Misericordia shot 29.5 percent (13-44) from the field and 19.0 percent (4-21) from three. They also went 8-11 from the free throw line (72.7%).

Around the MAC Freedom

• DeSales 90, FDU-Florham 40 F/SAT
• Delaware Valley 57, Lebanon Valley 66 F/SAT
• King's vs. Arcadia 3:00 P.M.

Up Next: Women's basketball continues conference play on the road Wednesday as they take on the one-loss Arcadia Knights. Tip-off is scheduled for 5 p.m. The Ducks are 5-0 all-time against the Knights. In last year's road contest at Arcadia,  Leyla Castro scored 16 points and had five rebounds to help lead Stevens to a 83-62 victory. Links for live stats and video are posted to stevensducks.com