Box Score
ARLINGTON, Va. - A late second half surge by Medaille University led the Mavericks to a 64-63 win over Lebanon Valley in the first round of the NCAA Women's Basketball tournament. Juniors
Eryn Schultz and
Suzie Noyes led the Dutchmen, posting 14 points each in the loss.
Schultz went 3-for-7 behind the arc and Noyes added three assists and two steals. Freshman
Liz Borgia added 11 points and four rebounds, while junior
Andrea Hoover posted eight points, and freshman
Tierney Hiltz totaled six points, along with leading the team with four assists and three steals in 23 minutes.
Medaille opened the contest with a basket and Schultz followed with a three pointer to take an early lead. She continued her success from behind the arc, hitting another to go up 8-6 at 16:29 of the first. The Dutchmen found themselves in foul trouble early, with Hoover and
Caitlin Murphy both charged with two fouls less than half way through the first frame.
Tough in the paint play by Borgia helped the Dutchmen push to a 21-14 lead at 8:23. She continued a few minutes later with a three point play after drawing the foul to push the lead to 26-18 in favor of LVC. The Dutchmen kept their momentum, and a steal from Noyes with a pass to Hiltz drew a foul under the basket. Two free throws by Hiltz, followed by a three from Schultz out of a timeout pushed LVC’s advantage to nine. Two baskets from freshman
Lindsey Nies helped Lebanon Valley to a 34-27 lead at the half.
Coach Todd Goclowski went deep into the bench in the first half, with 10 players seeing action for the Dutchmen.
Noyes opened the second half with a basket, but a three pointer by Medaille chipped away at LVC’s lead. Back to back baskets from Noyes and Borgia pushed the advantage to eight. The two teams traded baskets until the half way point of the second half when Medialle cut the Dutchmen’s advantage to just four points. Key plays from Hoover and Hiltz made it 51-45 LVC with seven minutes remaining.
Medaille used offensive rebounding to their advantage down the stretch, coming within three points with under three minutes left on the clock. The Mavericks added another basket to pull within two with 1:22 remaining. After a timeout was called, Medaille hit a three pointer with under a minute to go to take a one point lead. Noyes hit a jumper with 45 seconds left to pull back within one, but a foul on LVC and two free throws by Medaille put them back in the drivers seat. The two teams traded baskets in the final seconds, but a last effort shot by LVC came up short.
LVC finishes the season with a 23-5 overall record. The game against Medaille also marked Lebanon Valley’s first appearance in the NCAA Tournament.