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Women's Basketball
Lebanon Valley College 70, Stevenson University 60

ANNVILLE, Pa. – Senior Caitlin Bach and junior Kiely Chaklos posted double-doubles to lead the Lebanon Valley women's basketball team to its seventh straight Commonwealth Conference Championship game with a 70-60 win over Stevenson.

"It's exciting for our program to be back in the championship game for the seventh straight year," head coach Todd Goclowski said. "It says a lot about our kids as players, student-athletes, and alumni. It's a basketball family that has established itself with a terrific legacy."

LVC (21-5), eyeing its fourth straight conference title, will play Messiah for the third time in the last four years for the crown inside LVC Gymnasium at 3 p.m. on Saturday. The title game will also be a rematch of last year's contest in which the Valley came out on top with a 46-43 victory.

"Saturday is going to be a very exciting matchup," Goclowski added. "LVC-Messiah games are always great battles and I expect Saturday will be another great chapter in that rivalry."

Bach posted 15 points and 11 rebounds for her double-double and Chaklos tallied 18 points and 10 rebounds for a double-double of her own. Three more Dutchmen joined them in double-figures with sophomores Taylor Umbrell, Bridget Rothert, and Peyton Carper recording 13, 11, and 10 points apiece.

"It was the experienced players and teams that came out on top tonight," said Goclowski. "Caitlin Bach, who's been there, having won three championships here, really stepped up and led us. Kiely was also a great performer under pressure and that experience means everything in the playoffs. "

As usual, LVC dominated on the glass with a 48-31 advantage in rebounding. The Valley shot 21-of-50 from the floor (42.0%) and knocked down 24 of their 33 free-throw attempts (72.7%).

On the other side, foul shooting was an issue for the Mustangs (14-13) all night long as they sunk just seven of their 19 attempts from the charity stripe (36.8%) and went 24-of-60 from the field (40.0%).

"Defensively, we came out on plan and executed very well," Goclowski said. "We weathered the storm in the second-half, counter-punched well, and took advantage of opportunities to hold on for the win."

LVC came out inspired in the opening half, jumping out to an 8-2 lead early on a Chaklos lay-up. A three-pointer from Stevenson's Stephanie Martinez gave the Mustangs their only lead of the game at the 12:15 mark in the first half, up 9-8.

The Valley closed out the half on a 19-8 run and a Bach jumper with 46 seconds left sent the game into the locker room with the Dutchmen holding a 28-16 edge.

Throughout the second half, LVC had the answer for every Stevenson run. Cutting the Valley lead to five at 12:50 and 8:24, Rothert and Umbrell answered both times and the Dutchmen held on for the 70-60 victory.

The stage is set for the rematch between LVC and Messiah on Saturday. The quest for a fourth straight title tips off at 3 p.m.