Box Score ANNVILLE, Pa. - Despite shooting 46.2 percent from the field and scoring 22 points off turnovers, the Stevenson women's basketball team totaled 24 turnovers as the Mustangs 19-game winning streak was snapped as Lebanon Valley held on for a 68-64 Commonwealth Conference victory Saturday afternoon at Sorrentino Gymnasium.
The Mustangs (21-3, 15-1), who are ranked at No. 3 in the NCAA Mid-Atlantic Region, dropped its first conference contest this season in the regular season finale and first game since November 25. The team is also 0-4 all-time in Sorrentino Gymnasium.
After four-straight offensive rebounds by the Dutchmen, Lexie Lantz finally converted on a layup to give the hosts their largest lead of the game at 10, 25-15 with 7:21 remaining in the first half.
A steal and a layup by sophomore Sara Tarbert sparked an 8-0 run for Stevenson as the Mustangs forced three turnovers in a 41 second span. But two free throws by Taylor Umbrell stopped the run after she was fouled with five seconds remaining on the shot clock.
A three-pointer by senior Kayleigh Guzek tied the game at 28-28 with 1:28 remaining. The Mustangs then had a chance to take their first lead of the game since it was 5-4, but Guzek missed the front end of a one-and-one, her first miss from the line in 26 tries.
Stevenson, who started the game shooting 21.4 percent, ended the first half on a 13-5 run, holding Lebanon Valley to 0-for-6 shooting over the final 7:21.
The Dutchmen took a 30-28 lead into the break as the Mustangs were able to draw a charge with 3.2 seconds remaining before a three-point heave by junior Stephanie Martinez hit off the back of the rim.
Lebanon Valley, who attempted just seven free throws in the first meeting between the two teams, was 8-for-11 from the line in the first half and 17-for-25 for the game.
Bridget Rothert, who sat the final 8:34 of the first half with two fouls, hit a jumper in the paint just 12 seconds into the second half to extend the hosts lead to four. Rothert scored 11 of her 16 points in the second half.
A three-pointer by Peyton Carper gave the Dutchmen an eight point lead before Tarbert responded with a three of her own down the other end. Lebanon Valley finished the game 7-for-16 from beyond the arc.
The first bucket from senior Ty Bender cut the visitors deficit to just two but Rothert hit the Dutchmen's seventh three-pointer of the game to extend the hosts back to five with 9:36 remaining in the second half.
Trailing 57-52, Tarbert converted a three-point play to spark a mini 6-1 run as a jumper by senior Kayla Kelly tied the game for the fifth time at 58-58 with 6:06 remaining.
Following the 23rd turnover by the Mustangs Alyssa Cirucci converted a three-point play to extended the Dutchman's lead to three with 1:28 remaining before another turnover by Stevenson led to a free throw by Alexandria Lehman.
After two free throws by senior Kyarra Harmon to cut the Mustangs deficit to two, Rothert went down the other end converting on two free throws of her own to extend Lebanon Valley's lead to 68-64 with 38.9 seconds remaining.
The Mustangs, who were outrebounded 38-32, missed on their final three attempts from the field. For just the third time this season, a Stevenson opponent totaled more steals than the Mustangs as Lebanon Valley did it twice this season.
Tarbert finished with a game-high 26 points, her 10th 20-point performance this season, while adding eight rebounds, four steals, one assist and one block. Meanwhile, Harmon totaled 12 points, six rebounds, three steals, two assists and one block.
Umbrell led three players in double figures for Lebanon Valley with 17 points while Rothert and Carper added 16 and 15, respectively.
With the win, the Dutchmen claimed the number four seed in the conference playoffs and will host a first round game on Monday, February 23 versus fifth-seeded Arcadia.
Meanwhile, second-seeded Albright will host third-seeded Messiah in the semifinals on Wednesday, February 25.
Stevenson, who is the number one seed heading into the conference playoffs, will host the winner between Lebanon Valley and Arcadia on Wednesday in the semifinals. Game time is TBA.