DOYLESTOWN, Pa. – The No. 1 FDU-Florham women's basketball team prevailed with a hard-fought 75-67 Freedom Conference victory over Delaware Valley College on Wednesday night at James Work Gymnasium.
Shalette Brown (Somerset, N.J.) amassed a double-double for the fourth time this season with 16 points and 15 rebounds to lead the Devils (16-0, 5-0 Freedom) in the victory.
Brenna Coll finished with 20 points and six rebounds, while
Eireann Anastasi netted a game-high 22 points for Delaware Valley in defeat. The loss snapped the Aggies' (7-9, 2-3 Freedom) three-game winning streak.
The Aggies started hot, knocking down their first three shots from downtown and jumped out to a 13-5 lead in the game's first five minutes. But
Kyra Dayon (Trenton, N.J.) helped navigate the Devils on a 17-0 excursion as the top-ranked team gained control with a 22-13 advantage. Delaware Valley went cold over that stretch, missing all seven of their shots and committing three turnovers.
Agatha Drozd finally stopped the bleeding for the Aggies by draining a trey and on their next possession and Coll drilled another to make it a 22-19 with 6:15 to play in the opening stanza.
After the two teams traded leads, Brown gave the Devils the halftime edge by knocking down two free throws in the final five seconds and sent FDU-Florham into the break up 31-30..
Sophomore point guard
Alyssa McDonough (Parlin, N.J.) contributed four points, four assists and four rebounds in the half, while
Leigh-Ann Lively (Bangor, Pa.) paced the Devils with six points. Despite their drought midway through the half, Delaware Valley knocked down 7-of-16 from long range led by Coll's 10 points.
The Aggies surged out of the break with a 7-2 spurt, including five straight points to begin the period. A layup by Anastasi and a jumper by Shannon Barlow matched the Aggies' largest lead of the game at 43-36 with 17:17 to go.
However, FDU-Florham stormed back with seven-straight points and a three-point play by Brown pulled the Devils even at 43-43. Over the next five minutes of action, the Devils clutched control of the contest with a 10-2 run, which gave the nation's top team a 55-45 lead with 9:17 to play in regulation.
The fouls piled up for the Aggies as they tried to slow the Devils' attack and FDU-Florham entered the double bonus with nine minutes remaining.
Alicia Cox (Vineland, N.J.) sparked the Devils' fast-paced defense and propelled their up-tempo offense for the duration of the frame.
A late push brought the Aggies within single-digits in the game's final minutes at 69-60, but the Devils took care of business at the charity stripe and prevailed with their 49
th consecutive win.
McDonough finished with 15 points, six boards, and four assists, while
Kara Dayon chipped in with 12 points, seven rebounds, a steal and a block.
For the first time this season, the Devils lost the turnover battle as the Aggies forced 15 miscues while totaling 13 giveaways. The 13 Aggie turnovers are a season-low for a Devils' opponent.
FDU-Florham returns home for their next contest when they host Wilkes University this Saturday, January 24 at 1 p.m.