HOBOKEN, N.J. – Kailey Eckhart led the Lebanon Valley Women's Basketball team in a tough 50-47 defeat at Stevens Institute of Technology on Saturday afternoon at Canavan Arena in Hoboken.
 
The Dutchmen (13-6, 6-2 MAC Freedom) got off to a slow start as they mad just one of 16 field goal attempts in the first quarter. The Ducks (12-7, 6-2 MAC Freedom) scored the first basket of the game on their first offensive possession. LVC's defense didn't allow the Ducks to score again for nearly four minutes. Brielle Reidinger got the Dutchmen on the board with one of two free throw attempts. Eckhart tied the game with a free. The teams traded buckets as Jordan Zimmerman scored on a driving layup. Stevens outscored the Dutchmen 8-0 over the final four minutes to take a 12-4 lead.
 
LVC came out strong in the second quarter and immediately cut into the lead as Abbie Reed blocked a shot at one end and then Eckhart scored on a layup and a three pointer to make it a one-possession game. After three scoreless minutes, the Ducks scored on back-to-back offensive possessions to take a 16-9 advantage. LVC responded with layups from Reidinger and Riley Hevelow to get back within three with three minutes left in the half. Stevens knocked down a three, but LVC responded right back at the other end with a three by Cristina Fernandez. The Ducks increased the advantage back up to five with two free throws in the final minute. Eckhart found Elise Balmer down low for a layup while being fouled and the senior knocked down the free throw to make it 21-19 heading into the half.
 
Reed tied the game with a layup on the first possession of the second half. Two made free throws by Stevens and then a jumper from Reidinger brought the score to 23-23 after the first two minutes of the quarter. The Dutchmen scored the next seven points as Zimmerman had a jumper and a three before Balmer scored in transition off a feed from Fernandez. Stevens called a timeout, but Eckhart came up with steals on the next two possessions to keep Stevens from getting a shot off. The lead remained at seven until there was three minutes left on a put back bucket by the Ducks. Reed found Reidinger underneath for a bucket and then Reed knocked down three free throws to give the Dutchmen a 10-point lead. The teams traded a pair of made free throws over the final minute to send the game into the fourth quarter with the Dutchmen leading 37-27.
 
Eckhart started off the fourth with a layup in transition after a Reed defensive rebound and pass. The Ducks scored a pair of layups to bring the deficit back to single digits. Fernandez feed Eckhart down low for a layup to push the lead back to 10. The Dutchmen missed shots on their next few possessions and Stevens made three free throws and two jumpers to cut it to 41-38 with just under five to play. The run continued for the Ducks as LVC missed a pair of threes and Stevens scored on consecutive possessions in the paint to take a 42-41 lead. Fernandez stopped the run with a jumper to put LVC back on top. Stevens knocked down a pair of threes to take a five-point lead with a minute to play before
 
Eckhart had her three roll around the rim and go in to bring the score to 48-46. Fernandez blocked a shot and then Reed stole the ball to give the Dutchmen the ball with 33 seconds left. Eckhart was fouled going to the rim and hit one of two free throws. The Ducks drew a foul at the other end but missed both shots and Reidinger grabbed the rebound with 16 second left. Zimmerman had a chance to give LVC the lead but her shot in the paint was off the mark and Stevens grabbed the rebound.
 
Inside the Box

• Eckhart was 5-12 from the field and knocked down a pair of threes with two free throws for her 14 points. She also pulled down seven rebounds, recorded three steals, and blocked two shots.
• Reidinger had nine points and five rebounds with three assists. The junior was 3-8 from the field and 3-4 at the line.
• Zimmerman poured in seven points and grabbed four rebounds while Fernandez had five points, five assists, three steals, two blocks, and two rebounds.
• Reed led the Dutchmen with 12 rebounds and added five points, three steals, and two blocks.
• Balmer also had five points for the Dutchmen and grabbed three rebounds.

Up Next
The Dutchmen will look to rebound on Wednesday as they host Misericordia University at 7 p.m. inside Sorrentino Gymnasium.

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