NEW HAVEN, Conn. — #3 seed Daemen (25-3, 15-1 ECC) defeated #6 seed Felician (22-8, 15-5 CACC) in the NCAA East Region Quarterfinals at the James Moore Fieldhouse on Friday. With the win, the Wildcats advance to the East Region Semifinals for the third straight season and the fourth time in the last five years.

Daemen capitalized on Felician's 31 turnovers, converting them into 28 points. The Wildcats maintained control with a strong defensive performance, recording 18 steals and limiting Felician to only two successful three-point shots.

IMPACT PLAYERS

• Joline Raposo (Tampa, Fla.) tallied a team-leading 15 points, including three three-pointers, while also collecting four steals. 
• Claire Pikett (Holland, N.Y.) scored 14 points and added three blocks, and grabbing five rebounds, contributing to a strong defensive effort. 
• Ne'vaeh Buntley (Rochester, N.Y.) scored 14 points and recorded seven rebounds, showcasing her presence on the boards. 
• Julia Fontanillo (Valladolid, Spain) tallied 11 points while dishing out two assists and logging two steals.
• Shyla Montgomery (Brockton, Mass.) added five steals and scored eight points, reinforcing the defensive front.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE

• The game began with Felician taking an early lead, pulling ahead 9–0 by 6:25 through a series of layups and a free throw. The Wildcats responded with a flurry of scoring led by Raposo, who hit a crucial three-pointer at 5:16 and later added free throws to tie the game at 15-15. The teams exchanged leads, with Daemen ultimately securing a narrow 23–21 advantage at the end of the first quarter, capped by Pikett's decisive three-pointer with just two seconds left.
• The Wildcats surged ahead with a key sequence early in the second quarter, starting with Sophie Auer's (Lewiston, N.Y.) layup assisted by Pikett, followed by Raposo's three-pointer with an assist from Kyleigh Chapman (Canandaigua, N.Y.). Montgomery contributed defensively with two steals, bolstering their momentum. Despite Felician's attempts to cut the deficit, including a timeout at 7:53 and a three-pointer by McKenzie Palek, Daemen maintained control with another three-pointer from Raposo at 6:12. The quarter concluded with the Wildcats leading 39–33.
• Daemen surged ahead in the third quarter with a key sequence starting at 6:26 when Buntley hit a three-pointer, assisted by Raposo, to extend its lead. Pikett further contributed with an offensive rebound and a subsequent layup, prompting a timeout from Felician at 5:59. The Wildcats maintained control throughout the quarter, finishing with a 17–13 advantage in the frame and leading 56–46.
• Daemen secured its lead in the final quarter with a solid performance at the free-throw line, converting all 11 attempts. Pikett contributed significantly with a layup and a free throw, extending the Wildcats' advantage to 61–53 at the 6:00 mark. Despite Felician's push, including a three-pointer by Stephanie Formby, the Wildcats maintained control through consistent defensive efforts and timely scoring. Auer's late jumper and free throws sealed the match, and the game ended with the Wildcats winning 75–62.

GAME NOTES

• Raposo's 15 points marked a career-high
• Auer recorded at least 10 total points for the third consecutive game.
• Daemen recorded double-digit assists for the sixth straight contest.
• The Wildcats totaled 18 steals in the game, recording 15-plus for the 13th time this season.
• Daemen forced 31 Golden Falcon turnovers, scoring 28 points off of them.
• The Wildcats scored 32 points in the paint. 
• With the win, the Daemen now has a 9-5 record in the NCAA Tournament.
• The Wildcats are now 6-1 all-time against Felician.

UP NEXT
Daemen will play the winner of the quarterfinal matchup between the #2 seed Bentley and the #7 seed Mercy on Saturday at 5 p.m.

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Daemen University features the premier NCAA Division II athletics program in the Buffalo-Niagara region, sponsoring 17 intercollegiate teams. For the latest information on Daemen Athletics, follow the Wildcats via social media on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube and Instagram, or sign up to receive customizable news alerts, e-mail newsletters and weekly schedule alerts.

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