ANNVILLE, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley Women's Basketball team held visiting DeSales University to just 13 percent shooting in a 47-24 victory over Bulldogs on Hot Dog Frank Day at Sorrentino Gymnasium on Saturday afternoon.
 
The Dutchmen (10-5, 3-1 MAC Freedom) put together an impressive defensive performance against the defending conference champions to hand the Bulldogs (9-6, 2-2 MAC Freedom) their second consecutive loss. LVC scored the first seven points of the game and then the closest DeSales was able to get the deficit down to was three as the Dutchmen held a double-digit lead for the 22 minutes of the game.
 
Kailey Eckhart started the scoring with a jumper in the paint of LVC's second offensive possession. Brielle Reidinger made it 4-0 with a putback bucket. There was a scoring drought for three minutes until Cristina Fernandez found Eckhart open for a three-pointer. The Bulldogs scored their first points on a jumper with 3:18 to go in the first quarter. The Dutchmen answered right back with a bucket in the paint by Reidinger. DSU scored the next four points to cut the lead to 9-6 with a minute left. Elise Balmer knocked down a pull up jumper and then DeSales hit one of two free throws to make it ma four-point game.
 
Fernandez began the second quarter with a layup off a great pass from Eckhart. The Bulldogs hit a pair of foul shots and then Reidinger scored on back-to-back buckets down low to force a time out call with LVC leading 17-9. The Dutchmen defense continued to force missed shots and turnovers from the Bulldogs, but a made free throw made it 17-10 with 6:32 left in the half. Jordan Zimmerman grabbed an offensive rebound and scored before Eckhart knocked down a pair of free throws. Balmer then increased the lead to 14 with a three-point play on a strong play at the rim. The Bulldogs hit a pair of free throws with just over a minute to go but the Dutchmen went into the locker room with momentum as Eckhart knocked down a three right before the buzzer to go up 27-12.
 
Reidinger began the second half with a bucket in the paint which was answered at the other end. Abbie Reed, Reidinger, and Fernandez gave the Dutchmen a 23-point lead with layups as LVC held the Bulldogs without a point for over six minutes. Eckhart closed out the scoring with two made free throws to give the Dutchmen a 39-15 lead after an impressive defensive effort in the quarter where LVC outscored DeSales 12-3.
 
Fernandez knocked down a jumper off a pass from Zimmerman for the first points of the fourth quarter as the Dutchmen continued their stifling defensive effort holding the Bulldogs without a field goal for the first four and a half minutes. The Bulldogs put together a late rally and were able to get the score within 19 points at 43-24 with 1:30 left. Zimmerman and Reed scored buckets in the paint to set the final.
 
Inside the Box

• The 24 points allowed are least LVC has allowed since an 82-24 victory over Penn State Hazleton last November at the Rinso Marquette Tournament.
• DeSales made just six field goals in the game and shot 13.3 percent.
• Reidinger recorded another double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds. The forward was 7-14 from the field. She grabbed two offensive rebounds and dished out two assists.
• Eckhart also had a double-double with 14 points and 13 rebounds. She also dished out three assists.
• Fernandez pulled down eight rebounds and scored six points. The senior dished out two assists and blocked three shots.
• Balmer poured in five points while Reed and Zimmerman had four points each. Zimmerman had six rebounds while Reed pulled down four.
• The Dutchmen held a 43-33 rebounding advantage and scored 32 points in the paint.
• The win over the Bulldogs was LVC's first since 1984 breaking an eight-game losing skid against DeSales.

Up Next
LVC will be back in Sorrentino Gymnasium on Wednesday as FDU-Florham travels to Annville for a 6 p.m. start.

Stay Connected
Be sure to follow @lvcathletics on Instagram, X, and Facebook for the most in-depth coverage of LVC Athletics.