ANNVILLE, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley Women's Basketball team powered through the regular season and will look to win a Middle Atlantic Conference (MAC) Freedom title this week as the top seed in conference tournament. LVC will host fourth-seeded DeSales University on Wednesday in the semifinals while second-seeded Arcadia University will host third-seeded Stevens Institute of Technology.

The Dutchmen have the best overall record in the MAC Freedom at 19-6 while going a spectacular 12-2 in conference games. All 12 wins were by double digits and were led by the defense allowing just 44.6 points per game throughout conference play. The defense was on full display in both meetings against the Bulldogs with LVC winning the first matchup 47-24 in Annville and then defeating DSU 50-42 on Senior Day in Center Valley just 10 days ago. The Dutchmen swept second-seeded Arcadia pulling away late for a 69-56 victory in Glenside earlier this year and then dominating the Knights 73-55 on Senior Day in Annville over the weekend to earn the top seed. Third-seeded Stevens won both meetings against the Dutchmen needing comebacks in both as the Ducks used a big second half to win 72-60 in Annville the first conference game of the year and then used a fourth quarter rally to win in Hoboken 50-47 earlier this month. Arcadia had a pair of double-digit victories over the Ducks in the regular season winning 80-61 on the road and then 72-59 at home. LVC and DeSales will tip-off at 6 p.m. in Annville on Wednesday while Arcadia and Stevens will tip at 7 p.m. in Glenside. The winners meet on Saturday March 1 at the site of the higher seed to play for the Championship and automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. LVC is looking to win the program's fourth conference title and first since the 2012-13 season.
 
Ticket prices for each game are set by the MAC office and are as follows:
Adults - $8
Seniors (65+) - $6
Youth (7-17) - $6
MAC Students s/ valid ID - FREE
6 and under w/ Adult – FREE
 
LVC is ranked 18th in the nation in scoring defense allowing just 49.9 points per game while the field goal percentage defense is 21st at 32.5 percent and the three point percentage defense is ninth at 22.5 percent. The Dutchmen have done a great job taking care of the ball as they are 14th in turnovers per game at 12.9 and 31st in assist/turnover ratio at 1.11.
 
Senior captain Cristina Fernandez has done it all for the Dutchmen and is a serious contender for Player of the Year honors. The guard averages 10.6 points and 5.2 rebounds per game while leading the conference in blocks at 45 and assist/turnover ratio at 2.19. Fernandez is also fourth in the conference with 56 steals. Junior captain Brielle Reidinger has been a force down low and is another serious candidate for a Player of the Year award. The forward leads the MAC Freedom in numerous categories including double-doubles, rebounds, and field goal percentage. Reidinger averages 13.0 points and 9.9 rebounds per game while recording 13 double-doubles. Junior captain Riley Hevelow leads the team in scoring and finish fourth in the conference at 15.5 points per game despite missing five games. The guard has been a threat to score from anywhere on the court and has seven games this year with at least 20 points. She is coming off a 23-point outing against Arcadia in the regular season finale.
 
Senior Jordan Zimmerman has been a strong contributor to the squad all year averaging 6.6 points and 4.2 rebounds as a starter. She has scored in double figures seven times and dished out 40 assists with 25 steals. Junior Kailey Eckhart has been a strong shooter for the Dutchmen throughout the year scoring in double figures 14 times while averaging 10.4 points per game. She has been exceptionally good in conference games averaging 12.7 points in the 14 MAC Freedom games. The forward has also pulled down 106 rebounds and dished out 40 assists with 20 steals. Sophomore Abbie Reed has been a strong force on defense this year averaging 5.5 rebounds per game with most coming on the defensive glass. The guard has scored 112 points this year while dishing out 53 assists, recording 32 steals, and blocking 14 shots. Senior Elise Balmer has given LVC quality minutes off the bench averaging 15.7 minutes per game with 3.2 points and 2.1 rebounds. The forward has added 22 assists and 13 steals.
 
The Dutchmen have also received significant contributions off the bench by Hallie Edwards, Rachel Witkoski, and Alexa Holcomb. Edwards averages 7.1 minutes in 15 games while scoring 11 points and pulling down eight rebounds. Witkoski has seen action in 14 games, has scored 14 points and pulled down 11 rebounds. Holcomb has played in 20 games and pulled down 15 rebounds with 12 points. Erika Badner has gotten into 14 games, Erin Ford has played in 10, Olivia Baldwin, Ava Peel has saw action in six games, and Adrianna Stricek has played in four since transferring in mid-season from Wilson College.

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