ANNVILLE (PA) – Lebanon Valley College went on a 14-2 run over the final six minutes of the first half, propelling the Flying Dutchmen to an 86-71 victory over visiting Delaware Valley College in the championship game of the Rinso Marquette Tournament.
Lebanon Valley improved their record to a perfect 4-0 while the Aggies fell to 2-1 on the young season.
Delaware Valley tied the game at 29-29 as Brittney Battinieri hit a layup with 6:01 remaining in the opening stanza. Amanda Donia nailed a trey for the Flying Dutchmen 70 seconds later and ignited their spurt as they took a 43-31 lead into the intermission.
In the second half, Lebanon Valley built a 16-point lead twice, including a 74-58 score with 5:52 remaining. The Aggies responded with seven straight, including a three-point play by
Kim Vennera, to pull within nine. However, the Flying Dutchmen followed with seven straight of their own to put the game away.
Battinieri and
Brittney Zimmerman were named to the all-tournament team for Delaware Valley. Battinieri, in just her third game back from last year's season-ending injury, notched a career-high 29 points. She connected on 11-for-24 shots from the field, including a 5-for-13 showing from 3-point land. Zimmerman had 10 points, five steals and four boards in the championship game to follow Saturday's 19-point, seven-rebound effort.
Suzie Noyes was named the tournament Most Valuable Player as she paced Lebanon Valley with 22 points and nine rebounds. Eryn Schults and Andrea Hoover added 15 and 14 points respectively while Sarah Colton finished with 12 points and nine boards.