HOBOKEN, N.J. (February 14, 2024) - Sophomore Leyla Castro dropped a team-high 18 points while first-year Kay Decker recorded a double-double, as the Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team defeated Delaware Valley 72-61 in a MAC Freedom contest Wednesday night inside Canavan Arena.

The Ducks (13-11, 8-5 MAC Freedom) have won five of their last six games. They finish the year 7-6 in Hoboken. The two teams have now split the season series. The Aggies (16-8, 6-6 MAC Freedom) have lost two-straight games. Stevens moves to third in the MAC Freedom standings with just one game remaining. DeSales is in first and has clinched the #1 seed, while Arcadia currently sits in second. Lebanon Valley currently holds the #4 seed. With a win against FDU-Florham on Saturday or a Delaware Valley loss to DeSales on Saturday, or a Lebanon Valley loss to Arcadia on Saturday, the Ducks will clinch a playoff spot. The top four teams qualify for the MAC Freedom Tournament.

The Ducks scored the first two baskets of the game, coming from sophomores Olivia Schubiger and Dorothy Loffredo. The Aggies then scored seven of the next nine to take a 7-6 lead, their first of the game. That advantage wouldn't last long, as Stevens went on a 16-0 run across the final 6:50 of the first quarter, as they led 22-7 heading to the second. Seven Ducks scored in the frame, with Loffredo leading the way with five. Schubiger and Decker each had four. Stevens continued the run into the second, scoring the first six points to go up 21. Loffredo added to her tally, as she scored four of the six. Up 28-11, Decker grabbed her own miss and converted an and-one to put the Ducks back up 20. Schubiger then added a two to give the Ducks a 22-point lead, their largest of the game. Delaware Valley trimmed the deficit a bit from there, going on an 8-0 run. Castro then buried a three with 3:02 on the clock, as the Ducks maintained a 17-point advantage. Stevens would lead 38-23 at the break.

The two teams struggled to score to start the second half, as they combined for just six points across the first four minutes. With 4:35 to go, the Aggies got back to within single digits, but Decker scored on the next possession to quickly go back up double-digits. Just under a minute to go, first-year Paige Gorczyca drilled a corner triple, which Delaware Valley quickly answered. The Ducks led 50-40 after three. To kick off the fourth, Castro hit again from deep to put Stevens up 13. Castro would hit again at the 4:18 mark, which also gave the Ducks a 13-point advantage. The deficit would be too much for the Aggies to overcome, as the Ducks picked up a huge win in their quest for a playoff berth.
 

Top Performers

• Castro also had six rebounds and three assists.
• Decker scored 13 points and recorded 10 boards.
• Loffredo scored nine points and tallied seven points.
• Junior Lucy Alberici scored eight points, grabbed 11 rebounds, and recorded a career-high seven steals.
• Stevens shot 39.7 percent (25-63) from the field and 22.2 percent (4-18) from three. The Ducks also shot 75.0 percent (18-24) from the line.

The Opponent

• Haley Keenan scored 25 points, tallied nine steals, and grabbed six rebounds.
• Kendra Rigo added 11 points.
• Maisie Neuber scored seven points and added four rebounds.
• Delaware Valley shot 33.8 percent (24-71) from the field and 14.3 percent (3-21) from three. They also went 10-13 from the free throw line (76.9%).

Around the MAC Freedom

• DeSales vs. Misericordia 7 p.m.
• Arcadia vs. FDU-Florham 7 p.m.
• Lebanon Valley vs. King's 7 p.m.

Up Next: Women's basketball concludes regular season play on Saturday as they visit FDU-Florham. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. The two teams met earlier this season in Hoboken, with the Ducks winning 72-68. Kay Decker scored 19 points and had 13 rebounds in the game. Links for live stats and video are posted to stevensducks.com