DOYLESTOWN (PA) – The backcourt tandem of Brittany Battinieri and Kim Vennera combined for 43 points to lead Delaware Valley College to a 72-54, non-conference victory over visiting Keystone College.
Battinieri and Vennera are the two lone returning starters from last year's Freedom Conference payoff squad. Vennera, an all-conference honoree, finished the evening with 24 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Battinieri, the '08 conference rookie of the year, added 19 points and dished out four assists.
The two combined for 21 of the team's 35 points in the first half as Delaware Valley took a five-point advantage at the break. The two teams traded baskets to start the second stanza and the Aggies then scored nine straight to open up a 46-32 advantage. Battinieri netted the first seven, including a four-point play, while Vennera hit a jumper for the remaining two.
Keystone (1-1) pulled to within six as Jessica Kobesky hit back-to-back layups to make it a 49-43 ballgame with 12:13 remaining. However, the Aggies responded with 12-4 run, including four by Mandi Wilson and three by Battinieri, to put the game away.
Wilson finished with six points while Brittney Zimmerman added five points, seven rebounds, five assists and five steals. Jess Ruvolis contributed five points and a team-high 11 rebounds.
Ellen Fallon paced the Giants with 15 points while Kobesky and Leah Simko tallied 11 points apiece.