BUFFALO, N.Y. – Starting the 2024 portion of the season with a very tough test, the D'Youville University women's basketball team dropped a 72-54 contest against #5 Ferris State University Tuesday afternoon.
 
The Saints (4-9, 2-1 ECC) had a trio of players score double digits with Anna Jankovic (Averill Park, N.Y.) leading the way with 15 points. Stella Mollica (Shillington, Pa.) finished with 13 points while Brianne Moxley (Penfield, N.Y.) chipped in with 11 points. Jaelyn Vleer-Elliott (Waterville, N.Y.) led the way on the glass, grabbing six boards.
 
Jankovic got the scoring going on the afternoon, draining a three-pointer off the dish from Mollica. Moxley soon scored a three of her own, this time off the feed from Sophie Fuglsang (Oberanven, Luxembourg) to put DYU up 6-3. The Bulldogs answered, going on a 9-0 run to go up 12-6 with under five minutes left in the first quarter. Ferris State grew their lead to as many as nine, but a three pointer as time expired by Mollica made it a 20-14 game.
 
D'Youville carried the momentum in the early moments of the second quarter, cutting the lead down to two points with a basket by Mollica and a pair of free throws by Jankovic. Keeping the pressure on, the Saints were able to regain the lead thanks to a jumper by Jankovic to make it 24-23. The Bulldogs answered with six unanswered before a jumper by Mollica and a three by Fuglsang tied everything up at 29-29. Ferris State made it a two-possession lead going into the break, up 36-31.
 
Trailing by 19 points going into the fourth quarter, the Saints were able to cut the deficit to 15 points after baskets from Mollica and Moxley, but the Bulldogs were able to maintain their lead for the remainder of regulation.
 
DYU went 18-for-60 (30 percent) from the field and 11-for-12 (91.7 percent) from the free throw line. The Bulldogs went 26-for-55 (47.3 percent) from the floor and 5-for-6 (83.3 percent) from the free throw line. On the glass, Ferris State held the advantage with 40 rebounds to the Saints' 29 rebounds.
 
The Saints will be off until Friday, January 12th as they resume conference play when they welcome the University of the District of Columbia for a 6 p.m. tip.