HACKETTSTOWN (NJ)--- The Delaware Valley women's basketball team found themselves in a tie game early in the second quarter, but a big run into halftime by Centenary proved to be the difference, as the Aggies lost to the host Cyclones 70-59 to open the 2021-2022 season.
After a slow start that saw the game tied 4-4 midway through the first quarter, Centenary used an 8-1 run over a 2:19 span to take a 12-5 lead late in the quarter. DelVal quickly answered with a 5-0 spurt after Jenna Schiessl knocked down a three and Lauren Moretti converted two free throws. Centenary would hold a 16-13 lead after one quarter.
The second quarter was the turning point, as after a Kaela Stankiewicz layup for DelVal tied the game up at 17-17, the Cyclones ended the quarter on a 21-4 run over the last 7:18 of the quarter to build a 38-21 lead into the break. During that run, Centenary shot 8-11 from the field and went 4-6 from the free throw line while the Aggies struggled, going 2-11 and committing four turnovers.
The Cyclones expanded their lead in the beginning stages of the third quarter, as a Carly Tarnowksi three pointer with 5:38 left in the quarter gave the hosts their largest lead of the game at 47-24. The Aggies quickly cut into that lead on back-to-back three pointers by Lauren Moretti to trim the deficit to 17. A Taylor Richardson layup late in the quarter trimmed the lead to 16 and the Aggies trailed 55-36 heading to the fourth after Taylor Bossert connected on one of her four triples of the game for the Cyclones.
The Aggies clawed their way back in the fourth, as the visitors strung together an 11-2 run over the first 5:48 of the quarter to trim the Cyclone lead to 57-47. Haley Keenan scored six points during that stretch and DelVal for Centenary into five turnovers while committing none to get themselves back in the game. The Aggies couldn't pull to within single digits until the final seconds, as the Cyclones shot 4-5 from the field and 5-6 from the foul line to secure the 70-59 win.
Taylor Bossert led all scorers with 25 points for Centenary, going 9-14 from the field and 4-7 from beyond the arc. Jessica McKenzie finished with 12 points on 4-5 shooting and Carmen Escano had a double-double with 12 points and 10 rebounds. She also contributed 4 assists and 3 steals.
For DelVal, Kyarra Williams and Lauren Moretti tied for a team-high with 15 points, while Moretti led the team with 8 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists. Haley Keenan scored 10 points and corralled 6 rebounds.
Centenary finished the game 26-48 from the field, good for 54%, while the Aggies went 19-56 from the field for 34%. Centenary committed 21 turnovers to 14 for DelVal, but the Cyclones won the rebounding battle 37-30. The hosts were also more efficient from beyond the arc, going 6-12, while the Aggies went 4-20.
Delaware Valley will be back in action Saturday, November 13th against Penn State Harrisburg at the Lebanon Valley tip-off tournament.
