GLENSIDE - Abby Beam's three-pointer and resulting free throw with two seconds remaining lifted the No. 2-seeded Arcadia University women's basketball team to a thrilling 53-52 win over Lebanon Valley College, the No. 3 seed in the semifinals of the 2024 Middle Atlantic Conference Freedom (MAC Freedom) Tournament on Wednesday evening inside Alumni Gymnasium.

With the victory, the Knights advance to the programs first-ever appearance in a conference championship, set to take place at No. 1 DeSales on Saturday at 1:00 p.m.

HOW IT HAPPENED
-Arcadia raced out to an 8-0 lead through the first two-plus minutes with points from Delaney Bell, Katie Rodriguez, and Hanna Rhoades.

-Both teams matched buckets through the rest of the first as the Knights held a 19-13 lead after 10 minutes.

-Arcadia lead 25-18 with five minutes left in the second, but Lebanon Valley closed the half on a 10-4 streak as the Knights clung to a 29-28 advantage going into halftime.

-Tied at 37 four minutes into the third, a 5-0 stretch gave Arcadia a 42-37 lead.

-The Knights held a one point lead as the contest advanced to the final quarter.

-The Flying Dutchmen once again tied the score with four minutes gone by in the quarter, but another Arcadia 5-0 run made the score 49-44.

-Lebanon Valley used a 5-0 run of its own to tie the score with nine seconds left, leading to Beam's heroics.

KNIGHT LEADERS
Points: Rodriguez (19) / Bell (11) / Beam (9) / Rhoades (9)
Rebounds: Rodriguez (15) / Bell (13) / Rhoades (5)
Assists: Beam (2) / Scarlett Glasser-Nehls (2) / Rodriguez (1) / Bell (1)
Blocks: Rodriguez (3)

INSIDE THE STATS
-Arcadia won in the paint 30-20.

-Both teams had 41 rebounds.

NOTES
-Rodriguez notched her eighth double-double of the year.

-Bell secured her 20th career double-double.

-The Knights had their second-lowest amount of fouls.

-Three of Arcadia's four lowest turnover games have been against Lebanon Valley.

-The was the Knights first game all season without a steal.