ANNVILLE, Pa. – Riley Hevelow scored a game-high 21 points to lead four Lebanon Valley Women's Basketball scorers in double figures as the Dutchmen defeated Misericordia University 64-40 on Monday evening inside Sorrentino Gymnasium. The victory moved LVC back into a first-place tie in the conference standings.
 
The Dutchmen (15-6, 8-2 MAC Freedom) got off to a slow start scoring just two points on a jumper in the paint by Jordan Zimmerman over the first three minutes of action. Misericordia (5-16, 3-7 MAC Freedom) took advantage of the slow start and score seven points to build a 7-2 lead. The offense started to get going for the Dutchmen as Cristina Fernandez scored on a great pass from Brielle Reidinger and then Hevelow and a steal and bucket to get LVC within one. After another stop, Fernandez found Reidinger underneath for two points and the lead. The Cougars responded with a pair of jumpers in the paint to retake an 11-8 advantage. Fernandez drove by her defender for a driving layup and then Abbie Reed hit Kailey Eckhart for an open three to put the Dutchmen back on top. The junior knocked down another three off another assist by Reed to give LVC a 16-11 lead after one.
 
Reidinger started the scoring in the second quarter with a layup off a pass from Fernandez. The Dutchmen forced a missed shot at the other end before Reed found Eckhart for a third three-pointer to make it a double-digit game at 21-11. The teams traded scores over the next few possessions as the Dutchmen went to work in the paint offensively. LVC had four straight buckets in the paint over a three-minute span to make it 29-19 with 4:33 left in the quarter. The Cougars were able to cut the deficit to six with a pair of baskets before Hevelow knocked down a three and then scored on a jumper in the final minute to put LVC up 34-23 at the half.
 
Reidinger and Eckhart had driving layups for LVC's first four points of the second half. Each time Misericordia answered with a bucket at the other end and were able to get the lead back to single digits with a layup to make it 38-29 with 6:33 on the clock. The Dutchmen defense didn't allow the Cougars to score again for nearly five minutes. Reidinger hit the front end of two free throws and the Eckhart hit a jumper. Hevelow knocked down a three and then Fernandez pushed the lead to 17 with a driving layup. Misericordia ended the scoring drought with a bucket in transition following a defensive rebound. The lead was at 16 following a pair of free throws in the final minute by Alexa Holcomb when Reed stole the ball and hit Hevelow streaking towards the basket to make it 50-32 after three.
 
The Dutchmen put the game away with a strong start to the fourth quarter as Fernandez scored on a pair of driving layups and then Eckhart backed down a defender for a layup in the first couple of minutes. LVC held the Cougars to just two made field goals over the first five minutes and a 5-0 run by Hevelow gave the Dutchmen a 63-36 lead. Both teams went to the bench over the final five minutes, but the Dutchmen and Rachel Witkoski scored LVC's final point of the game with a free throw. Misericordia scored with three minutes left on a jumper in the paint and then with just over a minute left to set the final score.

Inside the Box

• Hevelow had a strong game shooting 9-13 from the field and 3-4 on threes for her 21 points. The junior also grabbed five rebounds and recorded two steals.
• Eckhart also knocked down a trio of threes and was 7-10 from the field for 17 points. The junior has scored in double digits all 10 conference games averaging a team-high 14.8 points.
• Reidinger added 11 points and six rebounds in 26 minutes of action. The forward was 4-6 from the field and 3-4 at the line. She pulled down three rebounds on the offensive glass and dished out two assists.
• Fernandez was the fourth double-digit scorer with 10 points. The guard once again did it all for the Dutchmen pulling down seven rebounds, including three offensive boards, dishing out three assists, blocking three shots, and recoding two steals.
• LVC scored 34 points in the paint and had 16 points off 16 Misericordia turnovers. The defense forced three shot clock violations in the game.
• The Dutchmen shot 50 percent in the first half and finished the game with a 44.8 shot percentage.
• The victory moves the squad into a first-place tie in the conference standings. The Dutchmen are tied with Arcadia University at 8-2, a game ahead of Stevens Institute of Technology at 7-3 with four games remaining in the regular season.

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will head to Madison, N.J. on Wednesday to take on FDU-Florham. A win over the Devils will clinch a berth in the MAC Freedom Championships as the Devils are currently fifth in the standings at 4-6. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. at the Ferguson Recreation Center.

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