DALLAS (Pa.) – A slow start and a sputtered finish by the Delaware Valley University women's basketball team resulted in an 85-54 Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom setback at Misericordia University.

The Aggies (3-5, 0-2 MAC Freedom) were outscored in the first quarter, 25-7. The Cougars (4-4, 1-1 MAC Freedom) shot 50-pecent (11-for-22) from the field and 33-percent (3-for-9) through the first 10 minutes of action while DelVal struggled from the field with just two field goals and three-of-four free throws.

The Aggies started the second with a 7-4 run to pull within 15, 29-14, midway through the stanza. Each team converted five field goals in the second but Misercordia went 3-for-3 from the charity stripe and DelVal went 3-for-6. The home team held a 40-21 lead at halftime.

The Aggies found a rhythm in the third quarter, shooting 9-for-16 (56.2%) from the field and 6-for-9 (66.7%) from the charity stripe, but the Cougars matched the effort and maintained its 19-point lead after three quarters, 64-45.

DelVal regressed in the fourth, going just 3-for-11 from the field as Misericordia outscored the Aggies 21-9 in the frame to come away with the victory.

Haley Keenan led all players in the game with 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting, 5-for-8 from the free throw line, and six rebounds. Taylor Richardson paced DelVal with 10 boards to go with eight points on a 4-for-7 effort from the field. She added two blocked shots. Lauren Moretti and Kaela Stankiewicz each added nine points and four assists.

Misericordia won the rebound battle, 56-36, and forced 23 turnovers while only committing 10. The Cougars pulled down 21 offensive boards. The Cougars got 46 points off the bench as 12 different players scored for the home team. Skylar Dowlling paced the group with 18 points off the bench and Megan McCaffrey, another reserve, finished with a double-double of 12 points and 11 boards.