LYNCHBURG, Va. – ODAC co-leader Lynchburg College had a strong defensive effort in the second quarter to key a 62-59 women's basketball victory Saturday over Shenandoah University at the James R. Wilkins, Jr. Athletics & Events Center.

Shenandoah (9-12, 5-7 ODAC) led 19-11 following Jordan Sondrol's jumper 36 seconds into the second period, but saw Lynchburg (18-3, 10-2) score 17 of the final 19 points of the period to take a 28-21 lead into the halftime break.

SU missed six of its final seven shots from the field and committed seven turnovers in the second period.

LC would hold the lead the rest of the way, but coach Melissa Smeltzer-Kraft's club stayed in the contest until the final buzzer.

Trailing by three, 62-59, after Olivia DeFrancesco missed a pair from the line with six seconds remaining, McKenzie Mathis corralled the defensive rebound and pitched ahead to Sondrol at midcourt. The sophomore took three dribbles before pulling up for a 25-footer which just fell short as the buzzer sounded.

The near complete comeback ended a string in which Shenandoah scored 18 of the final 26 points of the game to have the chance to tie.

Senior Kristyn Arcata, who finished with 20 points, and Sondrol each had five points in this closing stretch.

Mathis had four points including two free throws with 3:44 remaining that brought SU to within two, 56-54.

Lynchburg answered with a layup on the ensuing trip down the floor and after the two teams traded buckets, scored four straight points to stretch its lead to six, 62-56, with 15 seconds remaining.

In those final 15 seconds, LC gave up an offensive rebound on a missed SU foul shot and then missed two of its own from the line to give Shenandoah a chance.

Sondrol's miss from the elbow went off the front of the rim.

Arcata paced the hosts with 20, Ashley Stone had 17 and Sondrol 12.

SU shot an even 50 percent (21-of-42) but saw Lynchburg grab 40 of the game's 63 rebounds.

LC had an 18-4 advantage in second chance points.

Shenandoah takes to the road Tuesday for a 7 p.m. ODAC contest at Eastern Mennonite.

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