GLENSIDE, Pa. ­­– Kate Fitzpatrick scored 25 points for the Lebanon Valley College women's basketball team in the Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom Semifinal, as the program dropped a hard-fought 53-52 contest to Arcadia University on Wednesday, Feb. 21 at Alumni Gymnasium. 

The Knights opened the scoring, taking an 8-0 lead with 7:41 remaining in the first quarter. The Flying Dutchmen responded with a layup and a three-pointer by Cristina Fernandez, narrowing the score to 8-5 with 5:50 to go. Arcadia then scored three points, before Kailey Eckhart knocked down a pair of free throws to make it an 11-7 game with 4:11 left. 

The programs proceeded to go back and forth offensively over the next 1:13, exchanging baskets until the Knights were ahead 15-11. During this stretch, Fernandez connected on a jump shot and Eckhart made a layup for Lebanon Valley. Arcadia followed this with four consecutive points before Eckhart knocked down a jumper for LVC, advancing the score to 19-13. 

The Dutchmen and the Knights battled defensively early in the second quarter, keeping each other off the board for the first 3:33 of the frame. Lebanon Valley resumed the scoring with three straight points, trimming its deficit to 19-16 with 6:26 remaining in the quarter. The squad made it a three-point contest after Fitzpatrick connected on a layup and a free throw. Arcadia followed this with a three-pointer, but LVC responded with another layup by Fitzpatrick to make it a 22-18 game with 5:33 to play.

The Knights then made a three, but the Flying Dutchmen answered right back with a three-pointer by Fernandez to narrow the score to 25-21 with 4:45 left in the second. Lebanon Valley proceeded to close out the first half with an 8-4 stretch, making it a 29-28 contest entering halftime. During the final minutes of the stanza, Abbie Reed made a jump shot, Fernandez converted a layup, and Fitzpatrick connected on a three. 

Arcadia began the third quarter with a layup before Fitzpatrick knocked down another three-pointer. Lebanon Valley evened the score at 31-31 with 8:48 to go in the frame after this key shot. The programs followed this by swapping baskets until it was a 37-37 game with 6:22 remaining in the third. During this stretch, Riley Hevelow, Fitzpatrick, and Brielle Reidinger each made jumpers for LVC. The Knights responded with five straight points, taking a 42-37 advantage with 3:41 left. The Dutchmen closed out the third on a 4-0 run, narrowing the contest to 42-41. The squad made it a one-point game after a couple of jump shots by Fitzpatrick. 

Lebanon Valley and Arcadia continued to battle early in the fourth quarter, as the Flying Dutchmen posted a 3-2 stretch to tie the contest at 44-44 with 6:02 remaining. The program evened the score after a free throw and a layup by Reidinger. The Knights responded with five consecutive points, going ahead 49-44 with 2:26 left.  

The Dutchmen answered with three straight points, trimming their deficit to 49-47 with 44 seconds to go in the fourth quarter. Fitzpatrick was fouled while connecting on a layup before converting the foul shot. Lebanon Valley later tied the game at 49-49 with nine seconds left, as Fitzpatrick made a pair of free throws. Arcadia followed this with four points on a three-pointer and a foul shot with two seconds left. Fitzpatrick then knocked down a three as time expired, prompting 53-52 to be the final score. 

 Inside the Box Score

• Fitzpatrick recorded game-highs with 25 points, nine made field goals, three three-pointers, and four converted free throws. The senior guard also tallied five rebounds, two assists, a steal, and a block. 
• Fernandez posted a game-high three assists while tying for a game-high three blocks. The junior guard also had 12 points while tying a season-high two three-pointers. Fernandez registered nine rebounds and a steal as well. 
• Reidinger led Lebanon Valley with 11 rebounds while scoring five points with an assist and a steal. 
• Eckhart scored six points with two rebounds, an assist, and a steal. 
• LVC scored 20 points in the paint and 12 second-chance points. 
• The Dutchmen scored nine points off turnovers. 

Lebanon Valley concluded its first season in the MAC Freedom with a 15-11 overall record and a 9-5 mark in conference play.  

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