MADISON, N.J. (February 17, 2024) - First-year Kay Decker dropped a career-high 24 points and grabbed 14 rebounds as the Stevens Institute of Technology women's basketball team defeated FDU-Florham 78-47 in a MAC Freedom contest Saturday afternoon to close out the regular season.

The Ducks finish the regular season 14-11 record, with a 9-5 record in MAC Freedom play. With the win, the Ducks clinched a playoff berth. The Ducks sweep FDU-Florham 2-0 on the season. The Devils (11-13, 4-9 MAC Freedom) end the season on a two-game losing streak. Seeding is yet to be determined for the Ducks and Lebanon Valley, while DeSales will be #1 and Arcadia #2 in the MAC Freedom Tournament and have home games, while Lebanon Valley will be #3 and Stevens #4.

The first field goal of the game came with 6:14 on the clock, as Decker made a layup to put the visitors up 4-0. With 4:48 in the first, junior Lucy Alberici converted a layup to put the Ducks up 8-4. Decker would score the next four points, giving her eight for the quarter. She would add another layup with 18 seconds to go in the quarter, as the Ducks led 16-11 after one. Stevens took a nine point lead early in the second, as Alberici and sophomore Olivia Schubiger made buckets for the Ducks. Decker tallied her 11th and 12th points of the game after making another layup to put Stevens up ten. Up 26-19 with 6:12 on the clock, Stevens would hold the Devils scoreless the rest of the quarter, going on a 12-0 run to take a 38-19 halftime advantage. Decker finished the half with 16. 

Schubiger kicked off the half by making a bucket that put the Ducks up 21. The Devils would proceed to get within 15, but Decker tallied back-to-back baskets to extend the Duck advantage. Stevens would take a 22-point lead after first-year Paige Gorczyca made a triple with 2:21 on the clock. Stevens would lead 62-40 after three. Sophomore Sophia Bica made the first basket of the fourth as the Ducks went up 24. With the score at 68-47, senior Anika Damera and sophomore Isabella Duval hit back-to-back dagger triples with under five minutes to go in the game. The deficit would be too much for FDU-Florham, as the Ducks sealed the victory and a spot in the postseason.

Top Performers

• Decker also added an assist and a block.
• Schubiger scored 14 points and had eight rebounds.
• Alberici added 12 points and five assists.
• Ten Ducks recorded a point in the contest.
• Stevens shot 43.8 percent (32-73) from the field and 15.8 percent (3-19) from three. The Ducks also shot 68.8 percent (11-16) from the line.

The Opponent

• Neysa Aguilar scored 14 points.
• Julia Vazquez added 10 points and four rebounds.
• Shannon Tighe recorded seven rebounds and two blocks.
• FDU-Florham shot 28.1 percent (18-64) from the field and 23.1 percent (6-26) from three. They also went 5-8 from the free throw line (62.5%).

Around the MAC Freedom

• DeSales 77, Misericordia 39 F/WED
• Arcadia 78, FDU-Florham 66 F/WED
• Lebanon Valley 62, King's 43
• Misericordia 66, King's 58
• Delaware Valley 65, DeSales 88
• Lebanon Valley 76, Arcadia 50

Up Next: Women's basketball will play in the MAC Freedom semifinals on Wednesday on the road at #1 DeSales. Tip-off is TBD. Updates, as well as links for live stats and video, will be posted to stevensducks.com