BOSTON, Mass. – Riley Hevelow poured in a game-high 25 points as the Lebanon Valley Women's Basketball team dropped a tough 71-67 decision to Claremont Mudd-Scripps Colleges on Saturday afternoon in the first game of the Emmanuel Tip-Off Classic at the Jean Yawkey Center on the campus on Emmanuel College.
 
A close game throughout, the Athenas outscored the Dutchmen 10-0 over the final two minutes to advance to Saturday's Championship game against the host Saints. The game featured 16 lead changes and six ties and both teams had four players in double figures.
 
CMS scored the first points of the game and LVC got on the board with a layup by Jordan Zimmerman and a jumper by Hevelow. The Athenas took the lead back with a three-pointer and then a bucket down low gave CMS a 9-6 advantage. Hevelow got LVC within one on a jumper before Kailey Eckhart knocked down a three to put LVC ahead 13-11 with four minutes to play in the opening quarter. Cristina Fernandez extended the lead with a driving layup. LVC took their largest lead of the quarter on back-to-back fastbreaks by Fernandez and Hevelow to go up 19-13 with 1:28 left. CMS used a 11-0 run to take a 24-19 lead before Zimmerman ended the scoring in the quarter with another layup.
 
The Dutchmen came out strong to begin the second quarter with a 10-0 run over the first three minutes to take a seven-point lead. Brielle Reidinger had four points during the run while Hevelow added four on a pair of fastbreaks. The Athenas made their first field goal of the quarter with 5:30 to go on a three-pointer to cut the LVC advantage to 33-28. The teams traded layups before a three by CMS made it a one-possession game at 35-33. Hevelow hit a jumper and Fernandez knocked down one of two free throws to bring the lead back to five. CMS knocked down a three and Hevelow scored to make it 40-36 in favor of LVC at the half.
 
Five straight points to begin the second half for CMS gave the Athenas a one-point lead. The teams traded scores until a free throw by CMS tied the game at 46. Hevelow knocked down a jumper which was answered at the other end of the floor. Reidinger scored on back-to-back trips down the floor to make it a four-point game with just under three minutes left in the quarter. The Athenas scored seven points in the final 68 seconds to take a 55-52 lead heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
 
Hevelow scored four of the first eight points of the final quarter to give the Dutchmen a 58-57 lead. After a CMS bucket, the junior knocked down a three in transition to make it a two-point game. The Athenas evened the score and then Fernandez scored a pair of layups to give LVC a 65-61 lead with 5:18 on the clock. The senior then knocked down a jumper with 3:49 left to make it a six-point game. Neither team scored again until CMS hit two free throws right before the two-minute mark. A basket on their next possession made it a two-point game and then the Athenas knocked down a three with 26 seconds left to take the lead. Hevelow missed a jumper, and Fernandez missed a pair of free throws. CMS was 3-4 at the line over the final 10 seconds to set the final score.
 
Inside the Box

• Hevelow played all 40 minutes and was 12-20 from the floor for her 25 points. The guard also grabbed seven rebounds.
• Reidinger finished with a double-double of 12 points and 10 rebounds. The junior grabbed four offensive boards and blocked two shots.
• Fernandez had 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists.
• Eckhart was 5-8 for 11 points off the bench.
• Elise Balmer added four points and four rebounds with three assists.
• The Dutchmen held a 37-34 rebounding advantage and scored 14 second-chance points. LVC also scored 38 points in the paint.

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will be back in action tomorrow afternoon at 1 p.m. as they will face Hunter College in the consolation game. Hunter fell to Emmanuel 66-50 in the other game of the day.

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