ANNVILLE, Pa. – The Arcadia University women's basketball team overcame a 16-point second half deficit to take a 60-59 lead with six minute to go, but was unable to sustain that momentum as host Lebanon Valley closed the game with a 12-2 surge to claim a 71-62 Commonwealth Conference win Saturday.
 
The Dutchmen, who are receiving votes in the current WBCA Coaches' Poll, improved to 10-2 overall with the win, while the Knights fell to 6-5 with the loss. Both teams are now 2-2 in conference play this season.
 
Arcadia scored the first six points of the game and led by as many as nine after junior guard Maureen Fiocca drove to the basket for a layup that put the Knights ahead 16-7 just over eight minutes into the contest. Lebanon Valley dominated the rest of the opening frame, outscoring Arcadia 32-11 over the final 12 minutes to take a 39-27 lead at the break.
 
The Dutchmen used an early 9-2 burst that was capped by a three from junior guard Alyssa Cirucci to take what appeared to be a commanding 50-34 advantage 4:11 into the second half, but the Knights battled back with a 24-6 run to regain the lead. Junior forward Addy Crenny drained a three to cap the surge that put Arcadia up 58-56, marking the team's first lead since holding a 22-21 edge with 6:06 left in the first half.
 
Junior guard Bridget Rothert Knocked down a three of her own to immediately put Lebanon Valley back up by two and senior guard/forward Megan Fox answered by making a pair of free throws on the next trip down for the Knights to give them a 69-59 lead with 6:01 remaining. That proved to be Arcadia's last lead of the game as sophomore forward Lexie Lantz knocked down a pair of free throws to give the Dutchmen the lead for good.
 
Those two free throws from Lantz started a 12-2 run for LVC that spanned the final five minutes of the game. Six of those points for the Dutchmen were scored at the free throw line.
 
Fiocca scored a game-high 17 points on 8 of 17 shooting from the field to lead the Knights, while Crenny finished with 12 points and a game-high 13 rebounds for her team-leading eighth double-double of the season. Fox added 12 points with seven rebounds and four assists, while junior forward Valerie DiMuro chipped in with 11 points and seven boards.
 
Lantz posted a double-double of her own to lead Lebanon Valley with team-best totals of 14 points and 12 rebounds. Rothert netted 12 points with seven rebounds, a game-high seven assists and a game-high four steals, while junior guard/forward Peyton Carper also netted 12 points to go with six boards and three steals.
 
The Dutchmen scored 20 points on 18 Arcadia turnovers, while the Knights managed only 12 points off 13 LVC turnovers. The Dutchmen also held a decided 21-4 advantage in bench scoring.
 
Arcadia will return to action Monday with a 3 p.m. tip-off against Amherst College at Alumni Gymnasium. The Lord Jeffs with enter the game ranked third in the most recent D3Hoops.com media poll and ranked fourth in the WBCA Coaches' Poll.