Lebanon Valley vs. Gettysburg | Scranton vs. Kean

GETTYSBURG, Pa. – The University of Scranton kicked off the New Year on a high note by downing ninth-ranked Kean University 77-52 in the title game of Gettysburg College's 19th Annual Days Inn Tournament Saturday afternoon in Bream Gymnasium. The host Bullets came up on the short-end for the second day in a row, falling to Lebanon Valley College 75-68 in the consolation game.

After surviving an overtime thriller against Gettysburg (5-5) on Friday, Scranton (7-3) burst out to an 11-4 lead in less than four minutes against Kean (9-3). The Cougars, who have lost three of five contests since starting the season 7-0, pulled to within two points later in the half before a 10-0 run by the Royals set the margin at 12 (26-12) at 6:24. Kean cut into the deficit and scored six of the final eight points to go into the break trailing 33-30.

The Cougars tallied the opening point of the final stanza, but Scranton came firing back, netting each of the next six points and building their lead to 16 (53-37) just before the midpoint of the half. The Royals continued to press their advantage and eventually jumped ahead by 26 points later in the stanza before settling for the final 25-point victory.

Scranton dominated the glass 46-34, including grabbing 19 on the offensive end. The Royals forced the Cougars into 24 turnovers and turned those miscues into 28 points.

Sophomore Meghan Kopecki copped the Sally Musselman Outstanding Player Award after pouring in a game-high 23 points to go with four rebounds, three assists, and two steals. She was joined on the all-tournament team by senior Molly Klusek, who notched a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds, and sophomore Jennifer King, who tallied 10 points against Kean. Senior Kelly Tratthen tallied eight points and eight boards for the Royals.

Kean was led by sophomore Tiffany Patrick's 13 points, while senior Ebony Jackson landed all-tournament accolades with nine points, five boards, and four assists in the title game. Junior Danielle Brown posted nine points and six rebounds for the Cougars.

Gettysburg and Lebanon Valley went toe-to-toe in an all-out battle in the consolation game as the lead changed hands 18 times in the contest. The Flying Dutchmen initially took a 7-0 lead, but the Bullets sharpshooters quickly settled into a groove and pulled the squad ahead 17-16 on a three-pointer by senior Margaret White (Burke, Va./James W. Robinson) at 10:52. After exchanging the lead five times in the next five minutes, Lebanon Valley gained the upper-hand and went into the break with a 33-31 advantage.

The second half played out similarly to the first as both teams exchanged blows. Gettysburg jumped out to a three-point margin (41-38) on a three-pointer by freshman Julie McGrory (Moorestown, N.J./Moorestown) at 15:25 only to have Lebanon Valley march right back and take a six-point lead (49-43) on a layup by Megan Bish at 12:12.

The Dutchmen's lead stood at five following a 7-0 run down to 4:31, but Gettysburg clawed its way to one-point leads twice in the final 2:35 of regulation. Sophomore Caitlin Moser's (Wyomissing, Pa./Wyomissing) layup at 1:43 gave the Bullets a 67-66 lead, but Eryn Schultz came right back with a long-distance shot for Lebanon Valley. The free throw line proved the deciding factor in the final minute with the Dutchmen nailing six of eight attempts to seal the win.

Gettysburg connected on a season-high 10 three-pointers in the contest, but Lebanon Valley controlled the paint, out-scoring the hosts 32-16. The inside production led to a hot shooting night for the Dutchmen as the team connected on over 58 percent of its attempts.

Moser and junior Courtney Fields (Baltimore, Md./St. Paul's School for Girls) led Gettysburg with 13 points apiece, the former adding a team-high six rebounds en route to all-tournament honors. Junior Allie Drechsler (Westminster, Md./Winters Mill) pumped in a dozen points to go with five rebounds and four assists, while White and McGrory each added nine points.

All-tournament selection Andrea Hoover led Lebanon Valley with 18 points, five rebounds, and seven assists. Sophomore Eryn Shultz added 15 points and five boards, while Lori Lidlow tallied 15 points and three assists. Bish and Suzie Noyes each notched a dozen points for the Dutchmen.

Gettysburg returns to its Centennial Conference schedule in its next contest, a home affair with Bryn Mawr College on Wednesday, Jan. 7, at 7 p.m.