Box Score WILKES-BARRE (PA) – The Delaware Valley University women's basketball team came out scorching in the first half to spark a wire-to-wire 77-69 victory at King's College in a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom game on Wednesday.
It was the third straight win, and seventh in the last eight, for the Aggies, who improved to 13-11 overall. They are 9-4 in the conference and are guaranteed to be either the second or third seed in next week's MAC Freedom Championship Tournament. DelVal can clinch the second seed with a victory over FDU-Florham in the regular season finale on Saturday, February 20 (1:00 p.m.). In that scenario, the Aggies would host the Devils again in the semifinals. If the Aggies fall in the closing contest, they would travel to either DeSales or FDU-Florham. King's dropped to 11-13 overall with a 4-9 conference mark.
Delaware Valley started the contest with a 16-4 run. Senior
Eireann Anastasi, junior
Sam Foy and freshman
Danielle Skedzielewski tallied four points apiece while senior
Kelsey Kilpatrick and freshman
Brianna Rivello each made a layup. The Lady Monarchs recorded eight straight to cut the deficit to four (16-12) with 2:46 to go in the opening quarter. Jennifer Fabian and Cayle Spencer both drained a three and Olivia Hoffman had a jumper.
The Aggies were ahead 24-19 with 9:22 left in the second before orchestrating a 12-5 run. Anastasi led the charge with five points, Foy had four and Rivello sank a triple. The teams were even the rest of the half and DelVal had a 47-36 advantage at halftime. The Aggies shot a torrid 55 percent (18-of-33) from the field, including 42 percent (5-of-12) from three-point range. Anastasi led the way with 11 points and six assists.
After the Lady Monarchs scored the opening basket of the third quarter, DelVal had eight consecutive points to lead 55-38. However, King's came back with a 12-2 stretch to trail by seven (57-50) with 58 ticks to go in the frame. Fabian had eight of the points and Sara Krupinski and Hoffman registered two apiece. The Aggies produced seven of the next eight points for a 13-point cushion.
It was still a 13-point lead (72-59) with 4:12 remaining in the game before the Lady Monarchs made one final push. They had an 8-1 surge that put them within six (73-67) with 43 seconds left. Rivello converted two foul shots then Kilpatrick came up with a big block of Kasey Seitz' three-point attempt. King's got the offensive rebound and settled for two points with a jumper. Anastasi was fouled and made two free throws to ice the game with 11 seconds to go. She scored 15 points in the second half.
Anastasi had another outstanding effort, producing 26 points, eight rebounds, eight assists and four steals. Foy (16), Skedzielewski (14) and Rivello (10) all finished in double figures. Skedzielewski grabbed nine rebounds and Rivello had eight boards.
Fabian led the Lady Monarchs with 19 points and nine rebounds. Tara Zdancewicz followed with 14 points and nine boards. Hoffman ended the game with 12 points, eight rebounds and six blocks. Krupinski dished seven assists.
