MADISON, N.J. – Cristina Fernandez had a team-high 18 points to lead the Lebanon Valley Women's Basketball team to a 56-44 victory at FDU-Florham on Wednesday at the Ferguson Recreation Center in Madison. The victory enabled the Dutchmen to stay atop the conference standings and clinch a berth into the MAC Freedom Championships with three games remaining.

Fernandez got the Dutchmen (16-6, 9-2 MAC Freedom) out to a 4-2 lead scoring a pair of buckets after the Devils (7-15, 4-7 MAC Freedom) scored on the opening possession of the game. The hosts used a 6-0 run over the next three minutes to go up 10-4. Jordan Zimmerman hit a three and then Brielle Reidinger knocked down a pair of free throws to get the Dutchmen back within one. The run continued as Reidinger hit a jumper in the paint and then Zimmerman scored off a pass from Abbie Reed. The Devils tied the score up before Riley Hevelow hit a three. FDU-Florham responded with buckets on their next two possessions to retake a 17-16 lead.

The Dutchmen held the Devils off the scoreboard for the first eight minutes of the second quarter with strong defense. Offensively they were able to score 15 points to go up by 14. Kailey Eckhart started the scoring as Fernandez found her open for a layup. Fernandez and Reidinger scored underneath the hoop before Zimmerman went on a personal 5-0 run with a three and a jumper. Hevelow and Balmer added buckets to put LVC up 31-17 as the Devils took their second timeout of the quarter with 2:28 on the clock. FDU-Florham ended the scoring drought with a pair of free throws and a driving layup to get back within 10. Reidinger hit a free throw in the final minute of the half to give the Dutchmen a 32-21 halftime lead.

Neither team scored for the first minute of the second half. Eckhart scored two points at the line before Fernandez had a pair of fastbreak layups to extend the lead to 17 points at 38-21. The Devils responded with the next eight points to bring the deficit to single digits. The Dutchmen answered with a pair of layups from Fernandez and a foul shot by Reed. The teams traded scores over the final four minutes of the quarter with the Devils getting the advantage down to 10 at 45-35 before Fernandez scored on a driving layup in the final minute to put the Dutchmen up 12 heading to the fourth.

LVC put the game away in the first minute of the fourth as Zimmerman knocked down a three and then Hevelow hit Eckhart underneath for a layup. The Devils scored their first points nearly three minutes into the quarter with a three and then a layup cut the deficit back to 10. Reidinger was fouled while shooting and made both her attempts with 6:21 on the clock. Neither team scored again until Reidinger hit one f two free throws with three minutes on the clock. FDU-Florham made a late run with four points in the final 90 seconds, but Reed ended the scoring with a free throw to give the Dutchmen a double-digit victory.

Inside the Box

• Fernandez had a season-high 18 points on 9-15 shooting from the field. The senior added four rebounds and a season-high four blocks.
• Zimmerman hit a trio of threes and was 5-8 from the field for 13 points.
• Reidinger came off the bench for the first time this year and recorded a double-double with 10 points and 13 rebounds, including four on the offensive glass. The junior also dished out three assists. She scored most of her points at the line where she was 6-9.
• Eckhart finished with eight rebounds and six points while Hevelow had five points, seven rebounds, and three assists.
• Reed contributed six rebounds, three assists, and two steals.
• LVC held the Devils to a 26.2 shot percentage. It is the ninth time this year they have held an opponent shooting under 30 percent.
• The Dutchmen had an 44-29 rebounding advantage. LVC had 26 points in the paint and 11 fastbreak points.
• Lebanon Valley clinched a berth in the conference tournament for the fourth consecutive year and is currently tied for first in the conference standings with Arcadia University.

Up Next
LVC will play the final road game of the regular season on Saturday with a trip to Center Valley to take on DeSales University. Tip-off inside Billera Hall is scheduled for 1 p.m. against the Bulldogs.

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