ANNVILLE, Pa. – Four players registered double-digit point totals for the Lebanon Valley College women's basketball team on Wednesday night, leading the program to a 66-53 victory over Marywood University at Sorrentino Gymnasium.
Lebanon Valley (3-2) defeated Marywood (3-5) behind a balanced effort, as the team received contributions on both ends of the court.
Cristina Fernandez played a key role in the win, scoring 12 points while leading the team in rebounds, assists, steals and blocks. LVC got its offense rolling in the first half, as the team outscored the opposition in the first two quarters. The Dutchmen then used this halftime advantage to cruise to their third win of the season.
The Pacers jumped out to a 3-0 lead just 1:57 into the game, but the Flying Dutchmen responded with 12 unanswered points over the next 4:34 to go ahead 12-3. During this dominant stretch,
Riley Hevelow made a pair of jump shots while
Samya Santiague,
Kate Fitzpatrick,
Abbie Reed and
Allison Bimmer each scored two points. Marywood later went on a 7-2 run, making it a 14-10 contest with 1:38 left in the opening frame. Lebanon Valley then closed out the first with a 5-2 stretch, as a
Kailey Eckhart layup and a three-pointer by Fernandez during the final minute gave the squad a 19-12 lead.
The Dutchmen kept the offense rolling at the start of the second quarter, as Eckhart made a three-pointer just 41 seconds into the frame to put LVC up 22-12. The programs then exchanged baskets until Lebanon Valley led Marywood 26-17 with 6:07 to go in the first half. The teams followed this by battling defensively for the next 4:10, but the Flying Dutchmen scored four points in this span to extend their lead to 30-17 with 1:57 remaining. During this stretch, Fernandez made a pull-up jumper and Reed converted a layup. The Pacers then scored four points within the final minute of the second frame, giving Lebanon Valley a 30-21 advantage entering halftime.
The Pacers began the third quarter with an 8-6 run in the first 2:04, advancing the score to 36-29. The Flying Dutchmen later scored seven straight points over a span of 1:24, taking a 43-29 lead with 5:53 to go in the frame. The squad extended its advantage on a pair of layups by Fernandez and a three-pointer by Fitzpatrick. Marywood followed this with a 10-4 run, making it a 47-39 game with 2:12 to play. Fernandez then made a pair of free throws with 1:18 remaining, before the Pacers added a pair of points with just over a minute left. The programs battled defensively through the remainder of the third, as LVC took a 49-41 lead into the final frame.
The teams continued to deliver strong defensive efforts early in the fourth quarter, holding each other to one basket during the first 2:27, advancing the score to 51-43. The Flying Dutchmen delivered an important 6-0 run that began with 5:22 remaining, extending their advantage to 57-43 with 4:13 to go. The program went ahead by double-digits again after layups by
Elise Balmer, Bimmer and Reed. The Pacers then attempted to get back into the game, answering with an 8-4 run that advanced the score to 61-51 with 2:14 left. Lebanon Valley responded with a 5-2 stretch during the final minutes, securing the win.
Inside the Box Score
- Four Lebanon Valley players scored 10 or more points during the victory.
- Fernandez scored 12 points while leading the Flying Dutchmen with nine rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks.
- Fitzpatrick scored a team-most 15 points and logged four rebounds.
- Eckhart scored 11 points and tallied four rebounds.
- Reed scored 10 points and had eight rebounds during the win.
- LVC scored 30 points in the paint.
- Lebanon Valley's bench contributed 18 points.
- The Dutchmen recorded a total of nine steals.
Up Next
Lebanon Valley will return to action at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 2, as the program will host Albright College for Teacher Appreciation Day at Sorrentino Gymnasium.
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