ANNVILLE, Pa. – Kate Fitzpatrick scored a game-high 23 points to lead the Lebanon Valley women's basketball team to a thrilling 68-63 victory over Saint Vincent College on Sunday afternoon at Sorrentino Gymnasium during the Rinso Marquette Tournament. Fitzpatrick earned MVP honors for her weekend performances and leading the Dutchmen to two wins.
 
The Bearcats (1-2) scored the first two buckets of the game before Samya Santiague knocked down a three. Fitzpatrick and Kailey Eckhart had back-to-back baskets in the paint to give LVC (2-1) their first lead of the game at 7-6. Riley Hevelow hit a pull-up jumper and then responded to an SVC three-pointer by knocking down a three. The Dutchmen used a 6-0 run late in the quarter to go up 18-11. The Bearcats were able to stop the run with a free throw and then the teams traded buckets in the paint for LVC to take a 20-14 lead into the second quarter.
 
Fitzpatrick hit a three pointer to begin the quarter and LVC built a 34-16 lead following an 11-0 run. Fitzpatrick started the run with a steal and two free throws. Hevelow scored in the paint on a nice pass from Fitzpatrick and then Santiague scored on a fastbreak layup. Fitzpatrick found Eckhart open for a three and then Santiague scored in the paint. The Dutchmen were able to get the lead up to 21 following a pair of free throws by Alyssa Reisinger with 4:32 to go. The Bearcats finished the quarter strong with a 11-2 run to cut the lead down to 41-29 at the half.
 
Saint Vincent carried the momentum into the second half and slowly chipped into the lead throughout the quarter until taking the lead at 49-48 with just under a minute left on a pair of free throws. LVC responded with a defensive rebound by Eckhart and a nice pass to Hevelow for a fastbreak layup to take a one-point lead into the final 10 minutes. The Bearcats outscored the Dutchmen 20-9 in the quarter while LVC had their worst shooting quarter of the game making four out of 15 shots.
 
The Dutchmen came out strong in the final quarter with Fitzpatrick getting a steal and layup for the first points of the quarter nearly two minutes in. Hevelow then hit a pull-up jumper and Fitzpatrick scored a pair of baskets to give LVC a nine-point cushion with 5:47 on the clock. SVC responded with a 9-0 run to tie things back up with 2:53 left. Cristina Fernandez found Fitzpatrick underneath for an easy bucket and then Fitzpatrick knocked down a trey to put the Dutchmen up 63-58. That was as close as the Bearcats were able to get in the final minutes as LVC closed out the game at the line.
 
Inside the Box

• Fitzpatrick was 8-17 from the field with a trio of made threes. She was a perfect 4-4 at the line for her 23 points. The senior added six rebounds and four assists to her stat line.
• Hevelow, who earned a spot on the All-Tournament Team, had 13 points including scoring big buckets on important possessions.
• Santiague had a strong game with 10 points and two assists.
• Eckhart was the fourth Dutchmen in double figures with 10 points.
• Fernandez led the team in rebounding with eight to go with her eight points, two assists, and two blocks.
• The Dutchmen shot an amazing 47.2 percent from the field including knocking down seven threes. They were 11-14 at the line.
• The win gave head coach Diane Decker her 100th career victory.

All-Tournament Team
MVP- Kate Fitzpatrick- Lebanon Valley
Riley Hevelow- Lebanon Valley
Emily Cavacini- Saint Vincent
Madison Weber- Saint Vincent
Ava Novak- Penn State Schuylkill
Bry-Yasia Costen- Penn State Hazleton
 
Up Next
The Dutchmen will be off until November 22 when they make the short trip to Elizabethtown College to face the Blue Jays for a 4 p.m. tip the day before Thanksgiving.
 
Stay Connected
Be sure to follow @lvcathletics on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook for the most in-depth coverage of LVC Athletics.