Box Score

ANNVILLE, Pa. – Junior guard Erin Eaby (Ephrata, Pa./Ephrata) scored a game-high 16 points as No. 23 Lebanon Valley defeated Susquehanna University 55-32 in Commonwealth Conference women’s basketball action Saturday afternoon at the LVC Gymnasium.

LVC (18-2, 8-2 CC) led just 26-20 at halftime before outscoring the Crusaders 29-12 in the second frame.

Susquehanna (5-15, 1-8 CC), which was led by junior Andrea Carlson’s (Downingtown, Pa./Downingtown) 10 points and junior Skyra Blanchard’s (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg) 12 rebounds, lost for the 10th time in its of its last 11 games.

LVC held an opponent to 32 points for the second time in its last three games. After losing the first game in its new gym on Dec. 6, the Flying Dutchmen have won their last nine games at home.

Junior guard Crystal Gibson (Randallstown, Md./Randallstown) contributed 15 points and four assists while junior center Jennifer Northcott (Horsham, Pa./Hatboro-Horsham) added 12 points, 10 rebounds, five steals and three blocks for her 10th double-double of the season. Junior forward Tamika Rogers (Baltimore, Md./Milford Academy) registered eight points and a game-high 14 rebounds, one game after tearing down a season-high 16 rebounds in the Valley’s 61-58 win over Delaware Valley on Thursday.

LVC never trailed after a three-pointer by Eaby made it 7-5 with 14:37 to go in the first half. Lebanon Valley enjoyed a 10-point lead (19-9) with 8:52 remaining in the stanza before the Crusaders reeled off an 11-2 run to make it a one-point game (21-20) with 3:07 left in the half. LVC quelled the rally by scoring the final five points of the half.

Susquehanna out-rebounded LVC 29-15 in the opening stanza, with Blanchard pulling down 10 of her rebounds in the opening 20 minutes. The Crusaders committed 16 of their 28 turnovers in the first half, while the Dutchmen turned it over just three times in the half and 10 times in the game.

Lebanon Valley led by 12 (35-23) with 14:37 left, but Susquehanna scored seven straight points over the next 3:23 to make it a five-point game (35-30) with 10:14 to go. But the Crusaders managed just two points the rest of the way, and the Valley ended the game on a 20-2 run.

Susquehanna shot just 14.8% in the second half and 21.4% for the game. Lebanon Valley shot 42.9% in the second half after a posting a 31.0% mark in the opening stanza to finish at 36.0% for the game.

The Crusaders out-rebounded LVC 47-34, but committed 28 turnovers.

Lebanon Valley picks up its schedule on Wednesday, when it visits Moravian College at 7 p.m. in another Commonwealth Conference contest.

[Photo - Junior guard Crystal Gibson, who scored 15 points in LVC's win over Susquehanna on Saturday]

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