Nov. 27, 2011

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Lehman's women's basketball team is back to .500 and it couldn't have come in a more impressive fashion.

Behind championship game MVP Amanda De La Cruz's breakout performance which saw her fill the stat sheet with 22 points, 10 rebounds and seven assists, the Lightning overcame a 39-33 halftime deficit to defeat Valley Forge Christian College and capture the championship game of the Gallaudet University Holiday Tournament, 67-63, on Sunday night.

Fellow senior Leslie Mencia chipped in 18 points, one night after scoring 26 against D'Youville, and was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Senior Jaleesa Gordon matched her season-high with three blocked shots, added a game-high 16 caroms which helped the Lightning outrebound the Lady Patriots 54-43, and scored the biggest basket of the night, a go-ahead layup with 47 seconds remaining.

After watching Valley Forge shoot a stellar 52 percent from the floor on the way to holding a six point advantage at the break, the Lightning turned up the defensive intensity significantly in the second stanza, cutting the Lady Patriots proficiency nearly in half to 27 percent.

As Valley Forge struggled to score, Lehman received huge baskets down the stretch.  With 9:57 remaining Alicia McDaniel pulled the Lightning even for the first time since both teams had been deadlocked at 17-17.  Over the final five minutes there would be six ties and six lead changes, the last of which came on Gordon's layup that pushed Lehman in front 64-63.

The Lady Patriots' Amanda Reich had a chance to put her team back on top following Gordon's bucket, but could not find the range on a jumper.  Then, after Paula Robinson split a pair of free throws, Reich had a look to tie the game but again came up empty. 

Gordon corralled the crucial rebound and De La Cruz closed out the scoring with two free throws for the final margin.

With the win Lehman improves to 3-3 just in time for its first conference matchup, a home contest against City College of New York on Tuesday night which will be played at York College.