Box Score

ANNVILLE, Pa. - For 36 minutes, at least, Lebanon Valley College hung tough with the fifth-ranked team in the land. Unfortunately, #5 Messiah College showed why they are among the nation's elite, shooting a torrid 60.4 percent for the game and hitting a 14-0 run in the final moments to top LVC, 74-57, and win the Commonwealth Conference regular season title Tuesday night.

The Dutchmen (20-4, 5-4 CC) were much improved from their first meeting with the Falcons (22-2, 9-0 CC) back in January, shooting 40.7 percent overall from the floor and keeping the game close. Messiah's win will send LVC to Albright for the Commonwealth Conference semifinals next Wednesday, Feb. 27 at a time to be announced.

Junior Megan Bish came off the bench to lead LVC with 21 points, but was LVC's only player in double digits. Silalei Shani also drained 21 for Messiah.

The Falcons, the nation's top shooting team, went 29-of-48 from the field, but LVC's defense frustrated Messiah at times as the Dutchmen refused to be put away.

After the Falcons led 37-27 at the half, LVC started the second with a 4-0 spurt to cut the lead to six, and a Suzie Noyes layup four minutes in cut the lead to four. Messiah went back up by seven, but Andrea Hoover's jumper from the foul line and an Eryn Schultz three-pointer cut Messiah's lead to 44-42, forcing the Falcons into a timeout with 13:54 to go.

The break worked as Messiah assumed an eight-point lead after Nikki Lobach's layup at 10:31, but Bish's trey cut the lead again to five. LVC hung around there until the 4:23 mark, when a Shani jumper sparked off a huge 14-0 run that ended only when Shelly Lobach hit the game's final basket for LVC with 57 seconds left.

Lebanon Valley finishes up the regular season at Lycoming College Saturday at 1 p.m.