DOYLESTOWN (PA) – Freshman center
Jenna Peoples stole the show on Senior Day as she notched career highs of 25 points and 14 rebounds to lead Delaware Valley College to a 72-55 victory over visiting Wilkes University in a Freedom Conference game.
With the win, the Aggies notched a perfect 11-0 record at home in the regular season and they improved to 16-7 overall and 8-4 in the Freedom. They are tied with Misericordia University for third place in the league standings and one game ahead of King's College. Delaware Valley closes out the regular season with trips to Manhattanville College on February 16 and nearby Eastern University on February 20. The top four teams qualify for the Freedom Conference playoffs.
The Aggies got off to a sluggish start on Saturday as they hit just 11 of 36 shots from the field, including a 1-for-13 effort from 3-point land, in the opening half. However, they forced 16 Colonel turnovers and took a slim, 28-26 advantage into the break.
Delaware Valley opened the second half with seven straight points and 17 of the first 22 to built a 45-31 lead with 13:49 remaining. Peoples and fellow rookie
Emily Soper had five and four points respectively.
Wilkes (3-9, 1-10) pulled to within nine, 52-43, after Amanda Pawlowski drained a jumper with 6:49 to go. However, the Aggies put the contest away with a 10-2 spurt, including six by Peoples. She finished 11-for-19 from the field, including 7-for-10 in the second half. Peoples also added five blocked shots and three steals.
Kim Vennera, who was honored before the game with fellow senior
Lauren Pisano, tallied 12 points, seven rebounds, four assists and three steals in her final home regular-season game.
Brittney Zimmerman added 11 points, seven assists, six rebounds and five steals while
Brittany Battinieri had nine points and six assists. Soper nearly had a double-double as she ended the afternoon with eight points and nine boards.
Lyndsay Ellis scored 19 points to pace the Lady Colonels. Brittany Ely notched 13 points and a team-high 10 rebounds in the loss.
