CHESTER, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley women's basketball team fought back from a 12-point second half deficit to defeat host Widener University 61-59 on an acrobatic buzzer-beater by Kate Fitzpatrick on Wednesday evening in a huge Middle Atlantic Conference Commonwealth (MAC Commonwealth) victory in Chester.

Widener (5-10, 2-4 MAC Commonwealth) score the first four points and led for most of the game. Riley Hevelow put the Dutchmen (7-7, 4-2 MAC Commonwealth) on the board with a three off an assist from Allison Bimmer. The Pride used a 10-1 run to go up by nine with 2 minutes to go in the opening quarter. LVC outscored the Dutchmen 4-3 over the final two minutes to bring the score to 17-9 after the opening 10 minutes. Widener started the second quarter on a 5-0 run to take their biggest lead of the game. Hevelow knocked down a jumper and then Fitzpatrick hit a three to stop the run. The teams battled back and forth the rest of the quarter until Fitzpatrick scored the final points of the quarter on a three with a minute left to cut the deficit to 29-24.

Fitzpatrick started the scoring in the second half before Widener used a 9-2 run to go back up double digits. The Dutchmen were able to cut the lead back down to five with 3:11 to go before Widener finished the quarter with a pair of buckets to take a 48-39 lead. LVC came out strong to start the fourth quarter as Stabler stole the ball and then scored at the other end. Stabler had another defensive stop taking a charge before cutting the lead down to five with 8:11 left. Stabler continued her strong play a. few possessions later grabbing a defensive rebound and then scoring down low while being fouled off a pass from Fitzpatrick. She calmly sank the free throw to make it a two-point game at 50-48.

Widener hit two free throws to bring the lead back up to four before a big steal and fastbreak layup from Stabler with 4:40 to go made it 52-50. Cristina Fernandez made it a one-point game by knocking down one of two free throws. Stabler then gave the Dutchmen their first lead of the game with three minutes to go as Hevelow found her downcourt after a big block and defensive rebound. The teams traded scores until Hevelow hit a big three-pointer with 38 seconds left to give LVC a four-point advantage. The Pride were able to tie the game up at the free throw line giving the Dutchmen the ball with 11.2 on the clock. LVC inbounded the ball and worked it around the perimeter to Fitzpatrick near the top of the key. Fitzpatrick dribbled to the right wing, backed down her defender, and then put up a scoop shot off the backboard and into the bottom of the net as time expired giving the Dutchmen a huge road victory 

 Inside the Box Score

• Stabler scored 13 of her team-leading 17 points in the fourth quarter. She added seven rebounds, three steals, and a block.
• Fitzpatrick scored 14 points and dished out four assists.
• Hevelow tallied 12 points and seven rebounds with a blocked shot.
• Santiague added eight points while Fernandez had five.
• The Dutchmen outscored the Pride 22-11 in the fourth quarter and committed a season-low seven turnovers.

Up Next

LVC will look to take down first place Messiah University on Saturday in Grantham. Tip is scheduled for 4 p.m.

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