CENTER VALLEY, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley women's basketball team held nationally-ranked DeSales University to their second-lowest point total of the year in a tight 53-37 defeat on Saturday at Billera Hall in Center Valley.
 
The Dutchmen (9-6, 3-1 MAC Freedom) held the 21st^t-ranked Bulldogs (13-2, 4-0 MAC Freedom) 18 points below their scoring average for the year and led by one point going into the fourth quarter. DeSales jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead and scored the first six points of the game before Kate Fitzpatrick put the Dutchmen on the board with a layup nearly three minutes into the game. The senior knocked down a pair of free throws on the team's next trip down the court and then Brielle Reidinger tied the game up with a jumper in the paint just over halfway through the period.
 
The run continued as Riley Hevelow grabbed a defensive rebound and then knocked down a three from the top of the key to give LVC their first lead. The Bulldogs responded with a 6-0 run to retake the lead. Cristina Fernandez tied the game up with a three before the Bulldogs ended the quarter on a 4-2 run to take a 16-14 lead.
 
Fernandez began the scoring in the second quarter with a pair of free throws. The Bulldogs scored the next nine points to go up 25-16 with just under six to play in the half. They were able to build the lead up to 10 points at 27-17 with 3:24 remaining. The Dutchmen ended the half on a big 8-0 run to cut the lead to two. Reidinger started the run with a layup and then Hevelow knocked down a three. Fitzpatrick also knocked down a three as time expired to send the Dutchmen into the locker room with momentum.
 
The run continued into the second half as Reidinger tied the game with a bucket down low. The sophomore then gave the Dutchmen a 29-28 lead with another basket in the paint. DeSales hit three free throws before Fernandez evened the score at 31 with a jumper. The teams traded scores and then Fitzpatrick gave LVC a three-point lead as she banked a deep three with the shot clock about the expire in the final minute. DeSales scored down low to make it 36-35 going into the final 10 minutes.
 
DeSales locked down on defense in the fourth quarter and held the Dutchmen to just one point on a made free throw by Kailey Eckhart. On the offensive end, the Bulldogs scored 18 points to win by 16, their smallest win margin in a conference game so far.
 
Inside the Box

• Reidinger was just shy of a double-double with nine point and nine rebounds.
• Fernandez had a strong defensive game with 14 rebounds, 10 on the defensive end, and four blocks. The junior added seven points.
• Fitzpatrick was 4-4 at the line and knocked down a pair of three on her way to 12 points.
• Hevelow had six points and five boards.
• The Dutchmen held DeSales to one of their worst shooting percentages of the year at 32.8 percent. The Bulldogs were 22-67 from the field and 6-18 at the free throw line. 

Up Next
The Dutchmen will be back on the road this Wednesday for a conference game at FDU-Florham. Tip-off in Madison, New Jersey is set for 6 p.m. inside the Ferguson Recreation Center.

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