Box Score

ANNVILLE, Pa. - Lebanon Valley rode tough defense and balanced scoring to its fifth straight win as it dispatched Gwynedd-Mercy, 69-54, Monday night.

The Dutchmen (14-1, 5-0 CC) benefited from Eryn Schultz's 20 points and a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds from Suzie Noyes as they topped a tough Griffins (8-4) team.

With four three-pointers, Schultz moved within two of becoming LVC's all-time leader in that category; her 165 career three's puts her one short of Serenity Roos '00's mark of 166.

Andrea Hoover was an all-around contributor with eight points, nine assists, three steals and five boards, while Tierney Hiltz (8 pts) and Liz Borgia (8 pts, 9 rbs) contributed as well.

Brittany Neill led GMC with 15 points off the bench.

LVC led wire-to-wire and pressured on defense from the start, but they couldn't shake off Gwynedd-Mercy as the Griffins answered every Dutchman run to keep it close throughout the first half.

A 9-0 LVC run to start the second half finally put some air between the sides, and the Dutchmen worked the lead up to as much as 18 before an 11-2 Griffins run cut the lead in half with 5:23 left.

LVC quickly shut the door, however, as they held the Griffins without a field goal for the final 5:23 of the game. After Kristy McGrath's three-pointer made it 56-47, layups by Schultz and Borgia gave LVC some room, but chances at the line once again cut the lead to nine with 3:14 to go after McGrath's two freebies.

It would be a wide-open three-pointer by Noyes with 2:15 to go that would dash any hopes of a comeback, and GMC never made another bucket as they managed just two more McGrath foul shots in the closing minutes.

Lebanon Valley will face its toughest test of the season against #14 Messiah at home Wednesday night at 6 p.m.