HOBOKEN, N.J. – The TCNJ women’s basketball team struggled from beyond the arc and fell victim to a two-headed attack from Stevens as the host Ducks held on for a 72-64 non-conference victory.
 
Brooke McFadden posted her first career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds and Katie Fricker paired a team-high 16 points with eight boards for the Lions (2-2), who were just 5-for-20 from 3-point range.
 
Stevens (2-2) got 24 points from Leyla Castro and 20 out of Kay Decker to account for well over half of its scoring.
 
TCNJ led 7-2 after an early run of five straight points from Nina Branchizio before Isabella Duvall caught fire and made two 3-pointers as part of a 9-4 run to end the first quarter, after which the Ducks held a 16-13 edge.
 
Castro started the second stanza with a three-point play and knocked down a 3-pointer later to polish off a 15-2 run that left Stevens with a 29-15 advantage midway through the frame.
 
The Lions still trailed 43-33 at the break but held the Ducks to just two points in the first seven minutes of the third, trimming the spread down to 45-41 on a bucket by Myah Hourigan-Hutton.
 
Down 50-45 to open the final frame, TCNJ got as close as three on Branchizio’s basket in the paint to start the quarter. Castro’s three-point play, however, triggered a quick 5-0 run, and the Lions never got closer than four the rest of the way.
 
INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• TCNJ shot 42.1 percent overall (24-of-57) thanks to a 22-of-37 effort inside the arc, but Stevens was an efficient 7-for-14 from 3-point range and went 21-for-27 at the line compared to 11-of-14 for the visitors
• TCNJ held a 36-33 edge on the boards, but Stevens finished with more second-chance points (14-8)
• Branchizio had 14 points and was matched by Grace Kowalski, who was 5-of-10 from the field. The duo combined for seven steals (four for Branchizio, three for Kowalski)
• McFadden finished 5-of-10 from the floor and collected five offensive boards
• Fricker matched Arianna McCleod for the team lead with four assists

UP NEXT

• The Lions open NJAC play at William Paterson on Tuesday