GLENSIDE, Pa. -- The fourth-seeded Arcadia women's basketball team fell to fifth-seeded Lebanon Valley, 67-61, in the opening round of the MAC Commonwealth Championships on Monday evening inside Alumni Gymnasium.
 
The Knights finish the season with a final record of 12-14, while the Dutchmen improve to 14-12 and advance to Wednesday's semifinals where they will take on the top-seeded Falcons of Messiah College.
 
In a back-and-forth game that featured eight lead changes and 14 ties, it was a late run by the Dutchmen that ultimately proved to be the difference. Lebanon Valley closed the contest on a 14-6 over the final 5:30, turning a 55-53 deficit into the final six-point margin, the largest lead for either team in the contest.
 
Julia Makowski gave the Knights a 55-53 lead with 5:30 to play, converting a layup in traffic, and the Knights were poised to build on that lead following a turnover by the Dutchmen. After the Knights were unable to convert on the ensuing possession, the teams traded empty possessions back and forth until LVC's Aley Abate came up with a steal, scored on the break and drew a foul for a potential three-point play. She missed her free throw, however, Emily Mealey, who scored a game-high 28 points, came up with an offensive rebound and stick back for a 57-55 lead with 3:26 left.
 
Sydney Cyr split a pair of free throws with 3:02 left to pull AU within one, but Mealey answered with another layup for a 59-56 lead at the 2:07 mark. Anne Lehr added a three-point play with 1:46 left to extend the lead to six points (61-56) and LVC did enough down the stretch to keep the Knights at bay.
 
Trailing by two at the break, the Knights used a 22-16 scoring edge in the third quarter to take a 51-47 lead. Down 47-46 late in the period, Arcadia closed the third on a 5-0 run to assume the lead. Taylor Fritz, who led the Knights with 17 points off the bench, converted a pair of free throws for a 48-47 advantage, then added two more with 58 seconds on the clock for a 50-47 lead. Cyr was fouled with 33 seconds left and split her two attempts as the Knights took their largest lead of the game at 51-47.
 
For the game, the Knights shot 40.0 percent (24-60) from the floor and 10 of 13 (.769) from the line. The Dutchmen checked in at 47.3 percent (26-55) from the field and 13 of 20 (.650) from the charity stripe. Lebanon Valley held a 38-31 led in rebounding, but Arcadia forced 14 turnovers while committing just 10.
 
Fritz's 17 points came on 6 of 8 shooting from the floor and a perfect 5 for 5 from the free throw line. Taylor Dunn added 11 points, all in the third quarter, and Camille Menns chipped in 10 points and nine boards in her final game in the Scarlet & Grey. Cyr finished with seven points, four boards, three assists and two steals.
 
Mealey shot 12 of 14 from the floor and also pulled down 12 rebounds for a double-double. Lehr added 19 points, three assists and three steals.