HOBOKEN, N.J. ­­– Brielle Reidinger posted 18 points and 11 rebounds for the Lebanon Valley College women's basketball team on Wednesday, Jan. 3, as the program defeated Stevens Institute of Technology 64-60 in overtime at Canavan Arena. The Flying Dutchmen picked up the victory in their Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom Opener. 

The Dutchmen (7-5, 1-0 MAC Freedom) and the Ducks (5-7, 0-1 MAC Freedom) went back and forth early in the first quarter, exchanging baskets until Stevens led 7-4 with 5:37 remaining. Lebanon Valley then responded with four straight points, claiming an 8-7 advantage with 3:11 to go in the opening frame. The squad went ahead on a jumper by Kate Fitzpatrick and a pair of converted free throws by Reidinger. The Ducks followed this with five consecutive points before Riley Hevelow made a free throw with 1:05 left in the quarter, advancing the score to 12-9 in favor of Stevens. 

The Flying Dutchmen evened the score early in the second quarter, as Fitzpatrick tied the game at 12-12 with a three-pointer just eight seconds into the frame. Hevelow followed this by knocking down a jumper and a three-pointer, providing Lebanon Valley with a 17-12 lead with 8:33 to go. Stevens answered with four straight points, trimming their deficit to one with 6:52 remaining. 

The Dutchmen responded with an 8-0 run, extending their lead to 25-16 with 1:45 to play in the first half. This dominant stretch was the result of a jumper by Reidinger and three-pointers from Kailey Eckhart and Hevelow. LVC ended the second quarter with a 5-2 stretch, taking a 30-18 advantage into halftime. 

The Ducks began the second half with four points in a row, advancing the score to 30-22 with 8:32 left in the third quarter. Lebanon Valley responded with a 7-0 stretch, taking a 37-22 lead with 6:38 to go. The program took this commanding advantage after successful jumpers by Samya Santiague and Hevelow, before Cristina Fernandez drew a foul on a layup and converted the free throw. The Dutchmen led by as many as 17 points in the frame, as Reidinger made a layup with 4:35 remaining, making it a 43-26 contest. Stevens finished the quarter on an 8-2 run, trimming its deficit to 45-34.

The Ducks then began the fourth quarter on a 6-1 run, narrowing the score to 46-40 just under two minutes into the frame. The Flying Dutchmen answered a three-pointer by Fitzpatrick, extending their lead to 49-40 with 6:23 left in regulation. Stevens kept creating offensive opportunities as the quarter progressed, swapping baskets with LVC until the squad trailed 53-51 with just over two minutes to go. The Ducks later tied the game at 53-53 on a jumper with 1:13 remaining, prompting the game to go into overtime. 

Lebanon Valley struck first in overtime, starting the frame with seven consecutive points during the opening 2:38. Santiague got things started by making a layup, while Fernandez converted two free throws and delivered a clutch three-pointer to give LVC a 60-53 advantage. Stevens then attempted to get back into the contest, narrowing its deficit to 62-60 with 21 seconds remaining. Hevelow was fouled five seconds later and made both free throws, putting the Dutchmen up 64-60. The program preserved this lead through the end of the game to secure the victory. 

Inside the Box Score

• Lebanon Valley won its first conference game as a member of the MAC Freedom. 
• Hevelow led the Dutchmen with 18 points while tallying eight rebounds, three assists and a steal. 
• Reidinger recorded her first double-double with LVC, registering a season-high 18 rebounds with 11 points. The sophomore forward also posted a block. 
• Fitzpatrick scored 14 points with five rebounds, four assists and a pair of steals. 
• Fernandez logged 10 points, including five in overtime. The junior guard also had seven rebounds, four assists, two blocks and a steal. 
• The Flying Dutchmen outscored the Ducks 21-6 in the second quarter.
• LVC scored 22 points in the paint. 

Up Next 
Lebanon Valley will return to action at 1 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 6, as the program will host Delaware Valley University at Sorrentino Gymnasium. 

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