ST. DAVIDS, Pa. – The Lebanon Valley women's basketball team went on the road and defeated Eastern University on Tuesday evening by a score of 71-43 in the team's final regular season road game.
 
Kate Fitzpatrick got the Dutchmen (13-11, 6-6 MAC Commonwealth) out to an 8-2 lead in the first few minutes knocking down a pair of threes and a jumper in the paint. The Eagles responded with the next six points to tie the game up. Kailey Eckhart hit a three and then Eastern scored four straight points to go up 12-11 with 2:44 left. Cristina Fernandez hit a three to give LVC a 14-12 lead heading into the second quarter. The Eagles tied the game up at 16 and then Riley Hevelow, Fernandez, and Daelyn Stabler scored buckets forcing a timeout. Jordan Zimmerman and Fitzpatrick knocked down threes to increase the lead to 28-18 with just under two minutes to go in the half. The Eagles were able to score right at the buzzer to cut the deficit down to eight at 30-22.
 
Eastern began the third with three points to cut the lead to five but that was as close as they would get the rest of the way. Stabler began a 6-0 run with a jumper in the paint. After two Eastern free throws Stabler grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled on the putback. She calmly knocked down the free throw to put LVC up by 12. Samya Santiague scored and then Hevelow hit three straight jumpers to give the Dutchmen a 47-27 lead with five minutes on the clock. The teams traded scores the rest of the quarter until Eastern scored on a layup to make it 51-34 heading into the final 10 minutes of action. Stabler began the fourth with a jumper before finding Fitzpatrick open for a corner three right as the shot clock expired. Eastern did not have an answer for the Dutchmen the rest of the way and LVC grew the lead up to 28 points.
 
 Inside the Box Score

• Fitzpatrick was 4-6 on three-pointers and finished with a game-high 21 points, six rebounds, and three assists. It was her eighth game of the year with at least 20 points.
• Hevelow just missed a double-double with 17 points and nine rebounds with three assists. All nine of her rebounds were on the defensive end.
• Stabler had another huge game with 13 points, seven rebounds, four assists, and two steals.
• Fenandez finished with five points, nine rebounds, and three blocks.
• Jordan Zimmerman hit both of her three-point attempts and had nine points.
• LVC shot 48.3 percent from the floor, their second-best percentage of the season. The Dutchmen also shot a season-best 66.7 percent on threes making eight of 12 attempts.
• The Dutchmen clinched at least the fourth seed in the MAC Commonwealth Tournament with the win. LVC could move up to the three seed with a win on Saturday and an Alvernia loss. 

Up Next
Lebanon Valley will end the regular season on Saturday against top-seeded Messiah University at 1 p.m. inside Sorrentino Gymnasium. Prior to the game, the team will honor their lone senior, Daelyn Stabler.
 
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