VALLEY FORGE, Pa. (February 15, 2020) – The SUNY Delhi women's basketball team completed a season sweep of Valley Forge in spectacular comeback fashion Saturday, as Samiaya Salley drilled two 3-pointers in the final ten seconds to force overtime and come out on top, 81-76. Salley headlined the Broncos' scoring by making 6-of-8 three-pointers for 25 points as Delhi again prevailed over the Patriots after pulling out a tough-fought 68-61 victory over UVF at home on Jan. 26. Head coach Lauren McRoberts' team looks to take their winning fortunes into their season finale on Monday, hosting Norwich at 5:30 p.m.
Perhaps the Broncos' biggest obstacle of the afternoon was looking to contain the Patriots' Cayleen Conrad, who made eight 3-pointers on her way to 35 total points. Her seventh triple capped off a 10-0 UVF run that gave the home team a 63-55 lead halfway through the fourth quarter. Delhi stepped up to score the next six points, only for Cayleen Conrad to later respond with her final three of the game that made matters 68-64 in favor of the Patriots with just over a minute-and-a-half to go. Following a Katelyn Lewis made free throw, Salley completed one of her own to cut it down to 68-66 with 13 seconds left. Delhi then put UVF's Amaya Brown on the line, where she made both her attempts to make it a two-possession game at 70-66 with nine ticks remaining.
After a Delhi timeout and advance, Salley brought the Broncos back to life with a quick 3-pointer with 6.4 seconds remaining to cut it down to 70-69. UVF then put the ball back in Brown's hands, forcing Delhi to return her to the line where she again connected on both for another Patriots' three-point lead at 72-69 with 5.3 seconds to play. The Broncos called for another timeout and advance, again giving Salley the ball where she delivered the game-tying triple with 2.3 ticks to go. But Delhi's quick fortunes were nearly dashed when a reaching foul was called during UVF's Kaitlyn Hess' run up the court to send her to the free-throw line with 0.3 seconds remaining. Hess, however, was unable to get either shot to drop, setting up overtime at 72-72.
The first few minutes of overtime only produced a jump shot from each side to make the score 74-74 with 2:34 to go. Sam Acuna and Salley each made a free throw to put Delhi up, 76-74, then Salley delivered a jumper for a 78-74 Broncos lead with 1:15 remaining. Carlee Conrad got UVF back to within one possession with a layup at 78-76 with 56 seconds to play, but Delhi shut the Patriots out the rest of the way. Diana Echols answered with a layup, and when Carlee Conrad's ensuing free throws failed to produce points, Echols was there again to get her 18th rebound of the game for a season high to secure the win. Salley accounted for a free throw for the last point of contest.
Acuna and Carissa Crandall each finished with 14 points, with Acuna netting one 3-pointer and Crandall two. Echols finished with eight points, while Kiera Holland netted nine points with six boards. Salley added eight rebounds, as Katelyn Lewis totaled seven points and nine rebounds. Justin Lubbers had two points with seven boards, as Brenna Giofee tallied two points with five rebounds.
The Broncos shot 43.3 percent (29-for-67), going 10-of-24 on threes and 13-of-25 on free throws. The Patriots fared 30.8 percent (28-for-91), 10-of-42, and 10-of-18, respectively. Delhi outrebounded UVF by a staggering 73-37 margin. The green and gold's one blemish Saturday was committing 34 turnovers, as Valley Forge took advantage for a 41-8 lead in points off turnovers.
The women will honor their six graduating players in Monday's season finale at home versus the Norwich Cadets at 5:30 p.m. Delhi will recognize seniors Acuna, Echols, Lewis, Salley, and team manager Antonia Buon, as well as departing sophomore Gioffe.
