OWINGS MILLS, Md. - For the fourth time this season, senior Sara Tarbert exceeded 30 points, finishing with 39 as she led the Stevenson women's basketball team to a 84-63 victory over Lebanon Valley on Wednesday at Owings Mills Gymnasium.  This was Stevenson's seventh straight win, and fourth game out of its last five with a win margin of at least 19 points.

After a Dutchmen (8-11, 5-5 MAC Commonwealth) layup opened up scoring, junior Kaitlyn VanTash connected with Tarbert for a layup and foul in the middle of the paint to even the score.  Tarbert finished the free throw for the old fashioned three pointer to give the Mustangs the lead.  The Mustangs (13-6, 8-2 MAC Commonwealth) defense forced back-to-back turnovers but were unable to finish in the paint as the guests scored five straight and took a 7-5 lead with just under six minutes to play in the period.

The quarter remained tight as the teams traded the lead three more times and locked the score on four occasions.  The Dutchmen took a one point lead with 38 seconds to play, but a drive from the left elbow by Tarbert with three seconds on the clock gave the hosts an edge at the end of the first.

The teams picked up where they left off in the second period as they fought back and forth, trading baskets and the lead.  After a floater from junior Imani Sanders tied the game, 22-22, Lebanon Valley connected on a pair of layups to take the largest lead of the half at just four points.  

Trailing 26-22 with just over seven minutes remaining in the period, sophomore Jonyae Curry hit a jumper that sparked a 10-1 run for the hosts.  The run was highlighted by three pointers from Tarbert and freshman Hannah Crist.  

After more than two and a half scoreless minutes, the Dutchmen were able to convert and cut the score to just three points, but Stevenson closed the half on a 6-2 run as they held a 38-31 advantage at the break.

In the opening half, Lebanon Valley shot 40.6 percent from the floor compared to 36.6 percent for Stevenson.  The Dutchmen held a 25-20 advantage on the boards, but the Mustangs led 8-1 in steals.

Stevenson maintained and slowly stretched its lead to 52-38 just over four and a half minutes into the second half.  During the stretch Tarbert totaled seven points, including her second three pointer of the game.  Sanders added three on another old fashioned three point play.

Lebanon Valley cut its deficit to 10 points, but Stevenson stayed agressive as four different Mustangs got on the board and extended their lead to 62-43 to end the third quarter.  The Mustangs made 10 of their 12 field goal attempts in the frame (83.3%).

The guests opened up the final quarter with two free throws to make it a 17 point game, but that was as close as they would get as the Mustangs maintained control through the period to pick up their seventh straight victory.  The final quarter was highlighted by 11 points from Tarbert, and buckets from freshman Bianca Elize Santos and junior Sara Downing.

Stevenson finished shooting 44.3 percent from the floor, while holding Lebanon Valley to 35.8 percent.  The Mustangs also led 43-40 in rebounds and 11-9 in steals.

Tarbert extended her double-double streak to 19 games this season with 39 points, including four three pointers.  She also grabbed 13 rebounds, and dished out four assists.  Tarbert now sits 35 points shy of 2,000 for her collegiate career.  Crist totaled 13 points to match her career high, to go along with three assists, while Curry added eight points and five assists.

The Mustangs return to action on Saturday, January 28th when they travel to MAC Commonwealth-leading Albright beginning at 4 p.m.