Lebanon Valley 53, Eastern 49

LVC Starters
Stabler, Kintzer, Bimmer, Kuffa, Mealey

Eastern Starters
Brown, Schmidt, Kneis, Harris, Wright

How It Happened
ANNVILLE, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley women's basketball team used a big fourth quarter to defeat new MAC Commonwealth foe Eastern 53-49 for LVC's first win of the young season. LVC improves to 1-2 while Eastern remains winless at 0-3.
The Dutchmen trailed four headed into the final frame but would go on to outscore the Eagles 17-9 down the stretch to take home the win. Emily Mealey asserted herself at the offensive end to start the quarter scoring the first eight points of the fourth for LVC. With the Dutchmen holding a slim 44-42 lead, Allison Bimmer connected on a huge three-pointer from the right corner with just over five minutes left in regulation. The lead would remain two possessions for the remainder of the frame until a late Mikayla Wright three that banked off the glass with a few ticks left cut the advantage to just a pair. Kennedy Kuffa would step up and knock down a pair of free throws to put the game on ice and lift the Dutchmen to their first victory of 2021.
The two offenses, who had struggled the first two games of the season, came out on fire in the first quarter combining for 35 points with Eastern holding a 20-15 lead. Eastern shot 50% from the field and knocked down three triples in the first quarter but could not gain much separation from a stingy LVC squad. The two teams would slow down in the second with neither team shooting over 25% and combining this time for just 15 points with the Eagles up 28-22 at intermission.
The Dutchmen held a small advantage in the third, outscoring the Eagles by two to shrink the deficit to just four points headed into the final ten minutes where LVC would eventually take control.

Inside The Numbers

• Emily Mealey posted a double-double with a game-high 22 points to go along with ten rebounds.
• Kennedy Kuffa narrowly missed out on a double-double as she chipped in with 15 points and nine boards. She also went 5-for-6 from the free throw line.
• Daelyn Stabler had an all-around performance with seven points, five assists, four rebounds, two steals, and two blocked shots.
• Mikayla Wright paced the Eagle offense with 18 points and ten rebounds. She also knocked down four triples on six attempts.
• LVC shot a season high 34.5% from the field while holding Eastern to just under 30% shooting.
• LVC held a 12-4 advantage at the free throw line.
• Eastern had a big advantage from beyond the arc, knocking down seven three-pointers compared to LVC's just one.

Who's Next?
The Dutchmen are back in action on Friday when they travel to Eastern for the second game of their season series. Tip off is slated for 7 p.m. in St. David's, Pa.

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