The Misericordia University women's basketball team's furious rally in the final two minutes came up just short as the Cougars fell to Delaware Valley, 74-68, Saturday afternoon in the Anderson Center.

Alyssa Bondi scored 21 points and Skylar Dowling added 19 for the Cougars, who trailed 69-58 with 1:10 to play before slicing the deficit to 69-67 with :34 to go.

The Aggies made two free throws and a layup in the final 15 seconds to hold on.

Dowling sank two free throws with 1:10 remaining and added a driving layup from the left baseline to make it 69-62 with :43 left.

Bondi drilled a three-pointer from the left wing with :39 to play and Dowling made two more free throws to get the Cougars within two.

Both teams added a free throw to make it 70-68 and the Aggies scored four points in the final :15.

Bondi and Fasti combined for 29 first-half points as the Cougars took a 35-29 lead at halftime. 

With MU down 21-17 after one period, Dowling scored seven straight points to give the Cougars a 24-21 lead less than two minutes into the second quarter.

She opened the period with a drive on the right baseline and added a short jumper off a fastbreak efore drilling a three-pointer from the left corner with 8:21 to go.

Dowling connected a deep three-pointer from the left wing for a 27-25 lead with 6:10 to play.  Bondi drilled two three-pointers in the final minute of the half to break a 29-29 tie.

The Cougars led 35-29 at halftime, but the Aggies used a 28-11 third quarter to take control.