BUFFALO, N.Y. — D'Youville (10-13, 7-8 ECC) fell to Daemen College (21-3, 14-1 ECC), 66-56, at the Saints Center Gym on Sunday. The Saints' defense recorded six blocks; however, the Wildcats' 21-point fourth quarter secured the victory.

D'Youville opened the game by seizing an early lead with Allie Hall's (Rochester, N.Y./ Bishop Kearney) layup at 9:35. The team maintained momentum with consistent shooting, including three successful 3-pointers, one of which was drained by Ava Pearson (Colonie, N.Y. / Colonie) at 4:02. The defense was impactful, recording a block and a steal, contributing to their lead. As the quarter concluded, Samantha Ruhlman's (Warren, Pa. / Warren Area) layup with five seconds left ensured D'Youville led 18–13 at the end of the first quarter.

Midway through the second quarter, D'Youville regained momentum with a pivotal 3-pointer by Ruhlman at 4:49, assisted by Xanthippi Karatasiou (Katerini, Greece / Kontariotissa), extending their lead to 23–18. Shortly after, Alyssa Neumann (Silverdale, Wash. / Central Kitsap) capitalized in the paint, pushing the score to 25–18. Despite the Wildcats' efforts to close the gap, including a tying 3-pointer at 2:28, the Saints responded with a late surge. Hall's layup at 1:31, assisted by Megan Fedor (Elmira, N.Y. / Elmira), and Ruhlman's jumper with 43 seconds left secured a 29–26 lead by the end of the quarter.

D'Youville seized control midway through the third quarter with a key sequence, as Hall's defensive efforts, including two blocks and several rebounds, set the stage for a fast break layup by Fedor at 7:45, assisted by Pearson. This helped D'Youville to build and maintain a slight edge despite Daemen's persistent challenges, including a tying 3-pointer at the 1:17 mark. In the final seconds, Molly O'Toole's (Rochester, N.Y. / St. Thomas Aquinas) fast break layup, again assisted by Pearson, secured a narrow lead. The quarter concluded with D'Youville ahead 47-45.

The Saints fought to maintain their position in a tightly contested fourth quarter, briefly reclaiming the lead with a three-pointer by Morgan Giancaterino (Orchard Park, N.Y. / Sacred Heart Academy) at 8:47, bringing the score to 50-48. Despite this effort, the Wildcats responded with a series of successful plays, including a layup at 6:35, which initiated a scoring run. The Saints continued to challenge with free throws from Pearson and O'Toole, but Daemen's offensive push widened the gap. The quarter concluded with Madison Clark (Goshen, N.Y. / The Storm King School) converting a layup in the final seconds. The game ended with the Wildcats securing a 66-56 victory over D'Youville.

Ruhlman scored 13 points, making 5 of 8 field goals, including 3 of 4 from beyond the arc. Hall recorded a double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds, while also posting three blocks. O'Toole finished with nine points and collected nine rebounds, adding four assists to her performance. Pearson contributed eight points and led the team with five assists.

Up Next
The Saints close out their regular season on the road at Roberts Wesleyan University on Saturday, February 28th. Game time is set for 2:00 pm.