MADISON, N.J. ­­– Cristina Fernandez scored 18 points and made the game-winning free throw, as the Lebanon Valley College women's basketball team defeated Fairleigh Dickinson University-Florham in a close 55-54 battle on Wednesday, Jan. 17 at the Ferguson Recreation Center. 

The Flying Dutchmen (10-6, 4-1 MAC Freedom) and the Devils (9-6, 2-3 MAC Freedom) traded baskets early in the game until the score was even at 3-3 just 1:26 into the first quarter. Lebanon Valley then went on a dominant 8-0 run, taking an 11-3 lead with 5:51 remaining in the opening frame. During this strong offensive stretch, Riley Hevelow knocked down a pair of jumpers while Samya Santiague and Fernandez each made layups. 

The programs followed this by each scoring four points over the next 2:35, advancing the score to 15-7 after Kate Fitzpatrick converted a pair of free throws and made a pull-up jumper. FDU-Florham responded with a 5-0 stretch, narrowing its deficit to 15-12 with 31 seconds left in the first quarter. Brielle Reidinger was later fouled as time expired in the frame and extended Lebanon Valley's lead to 16-12 with a free throw.

The programs battled defensively early in the second quarter, maintaining the score for nearly three-and-a-half minutes at the start. The Devils then resumed the offense with a 6-0 stretch, taking an 18-16 advantage with 4:49 to go in the first half. The Flying Dutchmen promptly responded with a successful jumper by Fernandez 22 seconds later, tying the game at 18-18. 

The squads proceeded to exchange points until the contest was even at 22-22 with just over two minutes to play. This was followed by Fernandez making a jumper with 1:46 remaining, putting Lebanon Valley up 24-22. FDU-Florham closed out the quarter with a three-pointer when there were 57 seconds left, taking a 25-24 advantage into halftime. 

The Dutchmen struck first in the third quarter, as Reidinger made a layup in the paint to give the team a 26-25 lead just 20 seconds into the frame. The squads then went back and forth until the Devils were ahead 30-28 with 6:59 to go. Lebanon Valley answered back with a 10-0 run over the next 6:09, claiming a 38-30 advantage with just 50 seconds left in the third. LVC went up by eight points after a stretch that included four points by Reidinger, four points by Fernandez, and a layup by Abbie Reed. Both programs then made a jumper in the remaining seconds of the quarter, prompting the Flying Dutchmen to take a 40-32 lead into the final frame. 

FDU-Florham began the fourth quarter with a 6-2 stretch, trimming the score to 42-38 with 7:03 to play in the contest. Lebanon Valley responded with a jumper by Fernandez when there was 6:11 remaining, extending its advantage to 44-38. The Devils followed this with five straight points, making it a one-point game with 5:14 to go. The Flying Dutchmen countered with a 4-0 run, advancing their lead to 48-43 with just 3:51 left in the contest. Santiague made a free throw before Fernandez knocked down a clutch three-pointer to put the squad up by five. 

FDU-Florham followed this with an 11-4 stretch over the next 2:54, taking a 54-52 lead with just 57 seconds to go. Lebanon Valley then quickly tied the game at 54-54 just 15 seconds later, as Santiague made a pair of important free throws. The game remained even until there were nine seconds left on the clock, when Fernandez was driving to the basket and drew a foul to go to the charity stripe. The junior guard made her first free throw to provide LVC with a 55-54 lead. The defense of the Dutchmen then preserved this advantage through the end of the contest, securing the victory. 
 
Inside the Box Score

• Fernandez led Lebanon Valley with a season-high 18 points while recording seven rebounds, two steals, two blocks, and an assist. The junior guard also made the go-ahead free throw with nine seconds left, which proved to be the difference in the game. 
• Reidinger posted her second double-double of the season, leading the Dutchmen with 12 rebounds while scoring 11 points. The sophomore forward also had the most assists for the program, tallying three. 
• Fitzpatrick registered nine points with a season-high seven rebounds. The senior guard was also credited with two assists and made a block. 
• Santiague scored seven points with three rebounds and a pair of assists. 
• Hevelow recorded six points with three rebounds and two assists.
• The Flying Dutchmen outscored the Devils 16 to seven in the third quarter. 
• Lebanon Valley out-rebounded FDU-Florham 39 to 34. 

Up Next 
The Flying Dutchmen will return to action at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20, as the program will host Arcadia University for The Pink Game at Sorrentino Gymnasium. 

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