ANNVILLE, Pa. – Cristina had a double-double and was one of four Dutchmen in double figures as the Lebanon Valley women's basketball team defeated Centenary University 66-60 on Saturday afternoon at Sorrentino Gymnasium.
 
The Dutchmen (5-4) jumped out to a 5-0 lead over the first four minutes as Riley Hevelow knocked down a jumper and then connected for a three-pointer. The Cyclones (8-3) countered with the next five points to tie the game midway through the first 10 minutes. Samya Santiague and Brielle Reidinger had back-to-back buckets in the paint before LVC ended the quarter with a Fernandez driving layup and Kate Fitzpatrick three-pointer off a cross-court pass from Jordan Zimmerman. The Dutchmen held the Cyclone to seven points in the quarter on 20 percent shooting while scoring 14 points and shooting 42.9 percent.
 
Reidinger started the scoring in the second with the backend of two free throws and then Fernandez pulled down a defensive rebound and finished at the rim at the other end after a Reidinger assist. The Dutchmen were able to extend the lead to 14 points on a 6-0 run including a pair of jumpers by Fitzpatrick. Centenary responded with 10-0 run over the next three minutes to cut the lead to 23-19 with 4:14 remaining in the half. Hevelow stopped the run with a three pointer off an assist by Abbie Reed. The teams traded scores the rest of the way as the Dutchmen went into the locker room with a 34-28 advantage. LVC shot 53.8 percent in the quarter scoring 20 points.
 
The Cyclones scored the first three points of the second half before Reidinger scored on a layup and then Santiague knocked down two free throws. Fernandez had a steal and bucket to put LVC up 40-31 with six minutes to go. The teams traded scored until a 8-2 run cut the lead down to three with 2:34 on the clock. Santiague knocked down a three and then Fernandez scored on a driving layup. Fitzpatrick knocked down a shot to make it 51-43. After a three-point play by the Cyclones, Fernandez scored underneath to give the Dutchmen a seven-point cushion going into the fourth.
 
Centenary opened the quarter with the first points and the teams traded scorers for the first three minutes. The Cyclones scored on back-to-back possessions to come within one point at 57-56 with 6:11 on the clock. Hevelow hit a jumper and then Centenary scored twice to take their first lead at 60-59 forcing the Dutchmen to call a timeout. LVC came out of the time out Fernandez hit a running jumper in the paint. Fitzpatrick took a charge at the other end and then knocked down a huge three on the left wing to give LVC a 64-60 lead with 1:32 left. The Dutchmen held the Cyclones scoreless the rest of the way and Fitzpatrick knocked down a pair of free throws to set the final score.
 
Inside the Box

• Fernandez had 12 points and 12 rebounds including eight rebounds in the first half. She added five assists, one steal, and one block. Five of her rebounds wer on the offensive end.
• Fitzpatrick scored 19 points with three three-pointers and a perfect 4-4 at the line.
• Hevelow added 15 points and five rebounds. The junior knocked down a trio of three-pointers.
• Reidinger was the fourth scorer in double figures with 11 points and six rebounds.
• Santiague had a strong game with seven points, four rebounds, and three assists.
• The Dutchmen shot a season-high 49.1 percent making seven three-pointers.

Up Next
LVC will be back in action next Saturday as they travel to Bethlehem for the final road non-conference game of the year against Moravian University. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m. against the Greyhounds.

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