Lycoming 57, Lebanon Valley 56

LVC Starters
Lehr, Evans, Bamberger, Scarff, Mealey

Lyco Starters
Mueller, Dayton, McFadden, Fricke, Sipple

How It Happened
ANNVILLE, Pa. – In a matchup that came down to the wire, Lycoming escaped Sorrentino Gymnasium with a narrow 57-56 win over Lebanon Valley on Wednesday night in MAC Commonwealth women's basketball action. The Dutchmen now sit at 8-6, 3-2 MAC Commonwealth, while the Warriors improved to 9-3, 4-1 MAC Commonwealth.

With 2:10 remaining in regulation and LVC down 55-52, Becky Evans hit a pair of free throws to bring the Dutchmen to within a point of Lycoming at 55-54. After each team traded possessions without any buckets made, Anne Lehr hit a layup with 39 seconds to go, giving LVC a 56-55 advantage. After a Warriors' timeout, Shelby Mueller was fouled and went to the line to shoot two with 27 ticks left on the clock. Mueller knocked down both shots to give Lycoming a 57-56 lead. After another timeout, the Dutchmen held for the final shot, but the Warriors forced a turnover and held on for the slim victory.

Early on in the first quarter, the game was tight with the score knotted at 6-6. The Dutchmen then went on a 9-0 run, including a trey from Emily Mealey and four points from the charity stripe by Lehr, and after a late Lycoming layup, LVC went into the second quarter with a 15-8 lead.

The Dutchmen never trailed in the second period, but the Warriors hung around and LVC wasn't able to pull away, but the Dutchmen still went into halftime with a six-point advantage at 28-22 after Mealey made a layup with 13 seconds to go, giving her double digits in points after one half of action.

The third quarter proved to be the most pivotal period of the game, as an 8-2 run by the Warriors to start the third tied the game at 30-30 with 6:43 to go. For the remainder of the quarter, Lycoming continued to dominate and at the end of the third, it held a 44-37 advantage, but the Dutchmen were still within striking distance.

LVC opened up fourth-quarter action with a 13-6 spurt, including five-consecutive points from Caroline Scarff at the end, to tie the game at 50-50 with 4:51 remaining. From there, neither team led by more than three, but the Warriors forced a turnover late to earn a narrow win.

Inside the Numbers
 - Mealey recorded another double-double, finishing with 18 points and 10 rebounds.
 - Lehr added 13 points and a pair of steals, while Evans chipped in 10 points and three assists.
 - Lycoming's Shelby Mueller led all scorers with 24 points.
 - Akilah McFadden notched 10 points and Morgan Mader added nine.
 - The Warriors held the edge in field goal percentage at 40.4-35.3.
 - Lycoming led in total rebounds at 40-34.

Who's Next?
MAC Commonwealth action continues for LVC on Saturday when the Dutchmen travel to take on Albright at 4 p.m.

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