Galloway, N.J. – Stockton University (0-1) tipped off the 2021-22 season with a 65-48 setback in a road game at Drew University (1-0). The young Osprey squad with seven freshmen faced a veteran Drew team with four returning starters.
 
Nalya Hill (Bloomfield/DePaul Catholic) was the lone Stockton player in double figures with a team-high 10 points. Hill shot 5-10 (50%) from the floor and also grabbed six rebounds.
 
Senior transfer Grace Sacco (Ocean City/Ocean City) totaled nine points, team highs of seven rebounds and four assists, plus five steals in her Stockton debut. Freshman Madison LaRosa (Oceanport/Shore Regional) hit three three-pointers for nine points in her first college game.
 
Stockton got off to a slow start, shooting just 2-15 (13.3%) from the floor in the first quarter and falling behind 13-6. Hill opened the scoring in the second period with a basket to make it 13-8 but the Ospreys could get no closer. Drew broke out to a 15-point lead and settled for a 30-17 advantage at the break.
 
Although Stockton went 3-5 (60%) from beyond the arc in the third quarter, they were unable to make up any ground. Theresa Besso (Morganville/Marlboro) came off the bench to sink two three-pointers and freshman Olivia Palmer (Holmdel/Holmdel) buried one in the stanza.
 
Two minutes into the period, Sacco hit a pair of free throws to reduce the margin to single digits at 30-21, however Drew responded with five straight points and led by double figures for the rest of the game.
 
Stockton trailed 43-32 entering the fourth quarter. LaRosa netted two three-pointers and Sacco added four points as the duo combined for 10 of Stockton's 16 markers in the period but the Ospreys were defeated 65-48.
 
Stockton will play two home games next week, starting with matchup against Alvernia University on Wednesday at 6 p.m.