DOYLESTOWN (Pa.)--- Haley Keenan dropped a game-high 25 points for Delaware Valley as the Aggies pulled out a 57-56 win over Misericordia in a game where neither team lead by more than six points for the final 26 minutes.
Misericordia (16-7, 9-5) started the game off with an 8-4 lead. Haley Keenan brought the Aggies (10-13, 6-8) to within two with her second bucket of the quarter before the Cougars finished the quarter on a 6-1 run to lead 14-7 after ten minutes.
Back-to-back buckets from Keenan and Sophie Chevres pulled DelVal to within three to begin the second quarter. A pair of baskets from the Cougars extended their lead back to seven at 18-11 before DelVal rattled off ten consecutive points to lead 21-18. During the run, Ciana Feliciano and Jenna Schiessl connected from long range while Keenan and Chevres each knocked down jumpers. Misericordia scored the final four points of the half to lead 22-21 heading into the break.
Scoring picked up in the third, as the Cougars narrowly outscored the Aggies in the third stanza 19-18. Keenan scored the first six points of the quarter for DelVal, but Misericordia came out shooting well, as they led 35-29 midway through the quarter. Keenan and Chevres cut the lead to two before the Cougars grew it back to six with 1:44 left in the quarter. The Aggies continued to hang tough as they closed the gap to 41-39 heading into the fourth.
The Cougars shot 63% (7-of-11) in the third quarter, while the Aggies shot 57% (8-of-14) in the third.
Misericordia extended the lead to four to begin the quarter before Aubrey Ennis scored four straight for DelVal to even the score up at 43-43. With the scored tied at 45-45, Chevres found Maisie Neuber for a layup and the first-year ended up completing a three-point play to give the Aggies a 48-45 lead with 5:18 left, their first lead since the opening minutes of the third quarter. The Cougars cut it to one before Keenan extended the lead back to 50-47 with 3:37 left. A Misericordia free throw trimmed the lead to two with 2:33 left. Four Aggie free throws gave them at 54-48 lead with 51 seconds left. Misericordia trimmed the lead to 55-53 with 26 seconds left. After DelVal split a pair of foul shots, the Cougars had a chance for the tie, but miss a three pointer. Sophie Chevres hit one free throw to put DelVal up four before the Cougars hit a late three with 0.3 seconds left as the Aggies held on to win 57-56.
Haley Keenan led all scores with 25 points to go with five rebounds and three steals. Sophie Chevres chipped in 11 for DelVal while Taylor Richardson led the Aggies with eight rebounds.
The win keeps the Aggies in the thick of the playoff hunt, as they sit a half game behind both Arcadia and King's for fourth and fifth place. They also sit tied with Wilkes at 6-8 in the conference.
DelVal will round out their season Tuesday, February 14th at FDU-Florham for an 8 p.m. start before hosting Wilkes in the season finale on Saturday, February 18th at 1 p.m.
