MADISON, N.J. (January 16, 2019) - The FDU-Florham women's basketball team was edged in a tight game against Delaware Valley University 72-68, Wednesday night.

Senior Kayla Croswell hit two free throws to net the first points of the game, but the Aggies responded with two quick threes to give them an early 6-2 lead. The Devils didn't net their first field goal until senior Raven Dowling's layup with 6:38 left in the first quarter. The Devils and Aggies continued to trade baskets until the score was tied at 10. Delaware Valley hit a corner three to go up 13-10 but a layup by junior Breion Knox brought the Devils to within one. Over the final two minutes of the quarter Delaware Valley went on a 9-2 run to make the score 22-14 after one.

The Devils responded to open the second quarter with a 9-2 run of their own to make it 24-23 with 7:18 left in the second. Junior Cayla Staggers had four points for the Devils during their run. Delaware Valley would push the lead back up to four at 31-27 but the Devils responded with a 4-0 run to tie the game at 31. After a corner three by the Aggies, three points in the final 30 seconds of the half tied the score at 34.

Both teams came into the second half trading baskets until the Devils took a four-point lead at 42-38 with 6:31 left in the quarter. Neither team scored for the next 1:40 until the Aggies went on a 9-0 run giving them a 47-42 lead. The Aggies extended their lead to six with seven seconds left in the third quarter on an and-one play to make it 52-46, but a buzzer–beater three by Dowling made it a three-point game heading into the fourth quarter.

During the first two and half minutes of the final quarter both teams trading two baskets making the score 56-53 with 7:30 left in regulation. Junior Jennah Roman hit two threes early in the final quarter to tie the game at 56 and then again at 59. With the score knotted up at 59, two free throws by Croswell gave the Devils their first lead since the 4:50 mark of the third quarter. The lead didn't last long, as the Aggies tied the score at 61 forty seconds later. The Devils reclaimed the lead after freshman Helen Ismael converted the putback layup following a missed three. However, the Aggies snatched the lead back with a three to make it 64-63. Following a Delaware Valley timeout, Dowling received a pass from Croswell and drilled the three to give the Devils a 66-64 lead with 2:34 left in the game.

Delaware Valley would tie the game at 66 with 1:53 remaining in the fourth quarter. Both teams were unable to score over the next minute, but the Devils reclaimed the lead after Croswell made two free throws with 49.8 seconds left in the game. Following the free throws the Aggies used their final timeout to advance the ball to mid-court.

Out of the timeout the Aggies made a layup five seconds after inbounding the ball to tie the game at 68. After a Devil turnover, the Aggies drew a foul with 25.7 seconds left and sank both of their free throw attempts to make it a 70-68 game in favor of the visitors. Delaware Valley would go on to make two more free throws in the final 12 seconds of the game.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The Devils defense held the Aggies leading scorer Dom Moser to five points on 2-7 shooting.
• FDU-Florham made a season high five three pointers.
• Staggers tied her season high with eight rebounds.
• The Devils held a 45-39 edge in rebounds, including 21 on the offensive glass.
• Rookie Helen Ishmael made her second straight start, chipping in eight points and seven boards, including six offensively.

UP NEXT
The Devils will continue MAC Freedom play on Friday January 18, at 6:00 p.m. against Wilkes University.