BETHLEHEM (PA) – Lebanon Valley College used a late run to pull past Delaware Valley University, 62-57, in the first round of the 14th Roosevelts 21st Greyhound Classic at Moravian College.
The Aggies, who fell to 3-7 with the loss, will have a quick turnaround on New Year's Eve as they will battle Penn State Lehigh Valley in the consolation game at 11 a.m.
DelVal trailed by as many as 15 in the third quarter, but ran off 13 straight points to make it a 38-36 contest. Four different players scored in the run, including six by freshman Ashley Smink. The Aggies later got to within one in the quarter, but the Flying Dutchmen (6-6) scored the final four to take a 44-39 advantage into the fourth.
Lebanon Valley scored the opening bucket of the final stanza before DelVal answered with a 14-0 run. Monika Smallwood began the spurt with a layup and Sarah Wills followed with a 3-pointer. After a defensive stop, Danielle Skedzielewski scored inside while being fouled. She hit the ensuing free throw to give the Aggies a 47-46 lead.
Sam Foy added to the advantage by connecting from downtown. Smink then added a trey of her own and DelVal was up seven, 53-46, with 6:14 remaining.
However, the rest of the game belonged to the Flying Dutchmen. They scored 13 of the next 15 points for a 59-54 lead with 42 seconds left. Skedzielewski quickly followed with a 3-pointer to make it a one-possession game, but Hilary Yoh hit a pair of free throws for Lebanon Valley for a 61-57 score. The Aggies had three chances on their next possession, but could not score. Lexie Lantz added a late free throw for the Flying Dutchmen for the 62-57 final.
DelVal, which trailed 17-7 after one and 31-21 at the break, hit seven of 17 shots from beyond the arc, compared to a 2-for-7 showing by Lebanon Valley. However, the Flying Dutchmen got to the foul line 22 times and converted 16 while the Aggies were 8-for-11.
Smink paced DelVal with 18 points. Wills, a fellow freshman, hit three treys and finished with a career-high 13 points. Foy and Skedzielewski had eight points and six rebounds apiece with Foy also blocking three shots. Smallwood finished with seven points.
Yoh and Lexie Lantz paced the Flying Dutchmen with 15 points apiece. Lantz also grabbed nine rebounds. Anne Lehr notched 10 points and eight assists.