Box Score MADISON, N.J. – The fifth-ranked FDU-Florham Devils women's basketball team fended off Delaware Valley College for the third time this season by defeating the Aggies 56-49 to advance to the Freedom Conference Championship game.

The Devils (26-0, 14-0 Freedom) will host DeSales University on Saturday afternoon with the conference championship hanging in the balance. The defending conference champions defeated DeSales twice this season by an average margin of 27.5 points.

Kyra Dayon (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Central) paced the Devils with 20 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and knocked down a crucial basket in the game's final minutes to help secure the victory. The Aggies (15-11,8-6 Freedom) held a lead late in the contest and gave the Devils a scare, but FDU-Florham ultimately prevailed with their first single-digit victory of the season.

In the first half, the Aggies limited the Devils offensively and led 23-18 at the break. With 16:03 to play in the game and the Aggies leading 31-26, the Devils offense came to life with a 16-0 run. Six different Devils notched baskets during the run, including 3-pointers by Kara Dayon (Trenton, N.J./Trenton Central) and Jalessa Lewis (Irvington, N.J./Mount St. Dominic).

The Devils appeared to be off to the races but the Aggies valiantly fought back thanks to a pair of 3-pointers by sophomore Eireann Anastasi, which cut the deficit to 42-38 with 7:32 to play in regulation. The game remained tight and a converted and-one opportunity with 3:46 to play by Delaware Valley freshman Sam Foy put the Aggies back on top at 47-46.

Two minutes later, FDU-Florham regained the lead after a pair of free throws by Lewis and a clutch jumper by Kyra Dayon. After a pair of missed free throws by Aggie forward Brittany Wood, Dayon was fouled and converted her two attempts from the stripe, which put the Devils ahead 52-47 with 27 seconds remaining. Prior to Wood's two misses, the Aggies had converted 12 of their 13 attempts from the line. A layup by Anastasi cut the lead to one possession but Lewis and Dayon combined to go 4-for-4 from the charity stripe in the final seconds to secure the victory.

After a dismal 7-for-23 (30.4%) shooting display in the first half, the Devils warmed up by knocking down 54.5 percent of their shots in the second stanza. 

Anastasi led the Aggies with 15 points and five rebounds, while Agatha Drozd added 10 points and five boards in defeat.

Kara Dayon joined her sister as the only other Devil to reach double-figures as she added 12 points on the night. Junior forward Delisha Thompson (East Orange, N.J./East Orange Campus) provided a much needed boost off of the bench for FDU-Florham, by hauling in 10 rebounds in her 13 minutes of action.

Next up for the Devils:
FDU-Florham takes on DeSales University this Saturday, March 1^st in the Freedom Conference Championship game, with tip-off slated for 1 p.m.