DOYLESTOWN, PA – The Rowan University women's basketball team began the 2016-17 season with a 71-67 non-conference victory at Delaware Valley University on Tuesday.
 
It was the season opener for both squads. Guard Summer Crilley (jr. Galloway, NJ/Holy Spirit) led the Profs with 18 points. Guard Anyssa Sanchez (sr. Pine Hill, NJ/Sterling) and center April Szymczyk (jr. Jackson, NJ/Jackson Liberty) added 12 and 10 points respectively. Both also corralled six rebounds while Szymczyk totaled three blocks. Guard Valerie Garofalo (sr. Ventnor, NJ/Holy Spirit) chipped in with nine points, nine assists and five boards.
 
Guard/forward Danielle Skedzielewski (so. Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) had a double-double for DelVal with 15 points and 10 rebounds. Center Sam Foy (sr. Ridley Park, PA/Ridley) tallied 14 points and seven boards. Guard Morgan Mitchell (so. Ewing, NJ/Notre Dame) registered 12 points and seven rebounds while guard Ashley Smink (fr. Philadelphia, PA/Archbishop Ryan) contributed with 10 points.
 
There were 11 ties in the contest, with four coming in the final period. The last deadlock was at 61 apiece with 4:40 to play. Sanchez had a free throw (3:00) and Garofalo sank a jumper (2:34) for a three-point Rowan lead. Mitchell hit a jump shot (1:49) but Crilley (1:28) and guard/forward Alex Raring (jr. Linwood, NJ/Mainland Reg.) made baskets and Crilley added a foul shot (0:24) for a 69-63 advantage. After two free throws by Skedzielewski (0:13), Crilley converted two more at the charity stripe at the eight-second mark to clinch the victory.
 
The Aggies had a 12-6 advantage in the first before the Profs scored eight in a row for the lead. DelVal recovered for a 12-2 run and went ahead 24-16 in the second quarter. Four different players scored in the stretch. Rowan closed out the first half with seven straight points and took a 30-28 lead into the intermission. Foy had 10 points at the break followed by Crilley with seven.
 
The Aggies tied the score to start the third but the Profs responded with a 10-0 spurt. Not to be outdone, DelVal recovered for 10 consecutive points of its own to even the score once again at 40 (4:20). The teams battled back and forth for the remainder of the frame and Rowan held a 53-51 edge heading into the fourth.
 
The Profs face the College of Mount Saint Vincent in the first round of the Neumann Tip-Off Tournament on Friday, Nov. 18 at 7:30 p.m.