ANNVILLE, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley College women's basketball team opened the 2026-27 season with a strong all-around effort Friday evening, using a dominant third quarter and a balanced offensive attack to defeat Alvernia, 60-54, in the season opener at Sorrentino Gymnasium.
The Flying Dutchmen improved to 1-0 on the year after overcoming a tightly contested first half and holding off a late Alvernia rally. LVC led for more than 34 minutes of the game and built a 12-point advantage midway through the second half before securing the win at the free-throw line down the stretch.
LVC started quickly, jumping out to a 6-0 lead behind an early basket from
Hannah Custer and a three-pointer by
Hailie Edwards. Alvernia chipped away at the margin and eventually tied the score at 11-11 in the final minute of the opening quarter after a Riley Haztfeld three-pointer gave the Dutchmen an 11-5 advantage.
Kenzie Eckhart buried a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Dutchmen a 14-11 lead after one.
The Golden Wolves briefly moved in front during the second quarter, taking a 17-16 advantage following a three-pointer by Samantha Wade. Lebanon Valley responded behind
Abbie Reed, who scored twice in the paint, and a three-pointer from
Erika Badner that helped the Dutchmen regain control. Despite several lead changes, LVC carried a narrow 24-23 advantage into halftime as Hatzfeld scored the final points of the half on a step-back jumper.
The game turned in the third quarter as Lebanon Valley delivered its best stretch of the evening. Reed opened the half by scoring eight points in the period, including a three-pointer that sparked a 13-1 run. Back-to-back baskets from Reed pushed the lead to eight, while Badner and Eckhart connected from beyond the arc as the Dutchmen stretched their advantage to as many as 12 points. LVC outscored Alvernia 21-13 in the quarter and headed to the fourth with a 45-36 lead.
Alvernia refused to go away, trimming the deficit to six points several times in the final period. Paige Garner knocked down a pair of fourth-quarter three-pointers, and Olivia Burke scored seven points in the final eight minutes to keep the Golden Wolves within striking distance. Lebanon Valley answered each challenge. A second-chance basket from Custer restored a nine-point cushion midway through the quarter, and the senior forward later converted four straight free throws in the final four minutes. Reed added two free throws with 3:17 remaining, and the Dutchmen made enough plays defensively to prevent Alvernia from drawing closer than six in the closing seconds.
Inside the Box Score
- Reed led the Dutchmen offensively with a game-high 13 points, shooting 5-of-7 from the field, including a three-pointer, while adding seven rebounds, three assists, and a block. She scored nine points in the second half and helped spark LVC's decisive third-quarter run.
- Custer recorded a double-double in her first collegiate basketball game with 12 points and a game-high 12 rebounds. She was perfect 3-for-3 from the floor. Custer also contributed two blocks and went 6-for-8 from the free-throw line to help seal the victory late.
- Eckhart provided a major boost off the bench with 11 points on 4-for-7 shooting, including 2-for-5 from three-point range.
- Edwards added nine points, knocking down two three-pointers, while contributing two steals and an assist in 30 minutes of action.
- Badner chipped in seven points and six rebounds off the bench, shooting 2-for-4 from the floor and 2-for-3 from beyond the arc. She also grabbed three offensive rebounds.
- Megan Albrecht filled the stat sheet with eight rebounds, four assists, and three points.
- Scarlett Baumgardner finished with five rebounds, two assists, and a block.
- LVC controlled the boards with a 47-31 rebounding edge.
- The Flying Dutchmen received 23 bench points.
- Lebanon Valley shot 37.3% from the field and made eight three-pointers.
Up Next
The Dutchmen will be back in Sorrentino Gymnasium next Saturday, November 14, as they host Moravian University at 6 p.m.
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