READING, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley women's basketball team outscored host Alvernia University 16-3 in the fourth quarter to defeat the Golden Wolves 57-47 on Thursday at Jack McCloskey Court in the Physical Education Center in Reading. The victory was LVC's seventh consecutive win heading into the holiday break.
 
The Dutchmen (8-2) got off to a great start, scoring on their first two offensive possessions, as Riley Hevelow knocked down a pull-up jumper at the elbow, and then Kailey Eckhart scored on a driving layup after a nice pass from Hevelow. The defense held the Golden Wolves off the scoreboard for the first four minutes, forcing three turnovers and three missed shots. Hevelow hit a pair of free throws to push the lead to six before Alvernia got on the board with its first points of the game. Megan Albrecht was fouled while going to the rim and knocked down her two shots to give the Dutchmen an 8-2 advantage with 4:38 left. Hevelow gave LVC a seven-point lead at 10-3 with a layup. The Golden Wolves went on a 9-0 run over the final 2:30 to take a 12-10 lead after the first 10 minutes.
 
Eckhart began the scoring in the second quarter with a pair of back-to-back layups. Alvernia countered with two layups at the other end before Brielle Reidinger hit a baseline jumper to even the score at 16 with 6:42 on the clock. Alvernia scored the next three points, and then Adrianna Stricek powered her way to a pair of buckets down low to give LVC a 20-19 advantage at the media timeout. The Wolves came out of the timeout and scored the next four points to retake the lead. Abbie Reed knocked down a jumper from just outside the paint, and Erika Badner came up with a big offensive rebound and putback for her first points of the game. The teams traded scores with Hevelow hitting a pull-up on the left side before Alvernia tied the game with a free throw. The Dutchmen had a chance to take the lead at halftime, but a second-chance jumper on the left side by Badner just missed.
 
The Dutchmen came out strong to begin the third quarter as Eckhart hit one of two shots at the line and then scored underneath the rim off a pass from Reed. The Wolves made a pair of free throws, and then Eckhart knocked down a three-pointer on the right wing. Alvernia answered with a three-pointer at the other end and then got a steal and bucket to take a 33-32 lead. Eckhart drove to the rim to put the Dutchmen back on top by one midway through the quarter. The teams traded layups with Reidinger finding Albrecht streaking towards the basket. The Golden Wolves responded with the next three buckets to take their biggest lead of the game at five points. Reed got out in transition after a defensive rebound and scored while being fouled at the hoop. She knocked down her foul shot to get LVC within two. The Wolves got the lead back up to five in the final minute before Eckhart knocked down a pair of free throws to make it a three-point deficit heading into the final quarter.
 
Reidinger scored the first points of the fourth quarter as she grabbed an offensive rebound and quickly put the ball off the glass and through the net. Hevelow gave the squad the lead with a driving layup. Alvernia made its only field goal of the quarter with eight minutes to play to retake the lead. Nearly a minute later, Eckhart knocked down a pair of free throws. The forward then stole the ball and found Hevelow on the left wing for a pull-up bucket. The defense continued to put pressure on the Wolves and didn't allow the hosts to score. Reidinger knocked down a pair of foul shots and then scored a layup in transition after a Reed steal and pass up court. The advantage blossomed to nine after Eckhart hit a pair of free throws with 3:23 left. Eckhart gave the Dutchmen an 11-point advantage in the final minute with a layup. Alvernia hit one of two free throw attempts with 35 seconds left to set the final score.
 
Inside the Box

• Eckhart recorded her second double-double of the season with a season-high 22 points and a season-high 11 rebounds. She also dished out three assists and recorded three steals. The senior was 7-for-14 from the field and 7-for-10 at the line.
• Hevelow poured in 12 points while pulling down four rebounds. She also dished out two assists and blocked a shot. She has scored in double figures the past nine games.
• Reidinger finished with eight points and six rebounds. Four of her rebounds were on the offensive glass.
• Reed had another strong game with five points, six rebounds, five steals, three assists, and one block.
• Albrecht and Stricek had four points each. Stricek also grabbed five rebounds.
• LVC had a 43-38 rebounding advantage. The Dutchmen scored 30 points in the paint, 10 second-chance points, and 22 points off 19 Alvernia turnovers.
• There were 16 lead changes, and seven times the score was tied.
• The Dutchmen extended their winning streak to seven games. This is the longest winning streak the program has recorded since the 2013-14 season, when they won all four of their December games and the first three games of January.

Up Next
The Dutchmen will close out non-conference play on Tuesday, Dec. 30, as the squads welcome future conference opponent, Marywood University, to Sorrentino Gymnasium. Tip-off against the Pacers is scheduled for 1 p.m. in Annville.

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