BOX SCORE

Swarthmore, PA (Feb. 16, 2006) – Junior guard Lauren Fortna (Lebanon, PA/Lebanon Catholic) scored five of her team-high 13 points during a pivotal 11-2 second half run that led Alvernia College to a 59-50 win over Swarthmore College in non-conference women’s basketball action Thursday evening at Swarthmore.

            Fortna nailed a 3 with the Crusaders up 48-45 that doubled the lead a hit a layup that gave the Crusaders their largest lead of the night, 57-47.  Alvernia led for the entire first half and surrendered the lead for just one possession early in the second half.  Senior Mandy Reinhart (Pine Grove, PA/Pine Grove) nailed one of her two 3s to force the third tie of the night and after a Michelle Lutzkanin (Hummelstown, PA/Lower Dauphin) 3 gave the lead back to the Crusaders, they never trailed again for the remainder of play.

            Reinhart finished the game with 10 points and junior forward Erin Knarr (Sinking Spring, PA/Wilson) scored 12 points for the Crusaders (13-12) who are above .500 for the first time this season.  Swarthmore forward Karen Berk led the Garnett Tide (10-14) with 13 points and a game-high 22 rebounds.  Cara Tigue also tallied 13 for Swarthmore to go with 10 rebounds.  The Garnett Tide scored a 50-37 advantage on the boards including 19 rebounds on the offensive end.

            The Alvernia defense forced 21 turnovers and held Swarthmore to 19-of-59 shooting.  The Crusaders wrapped up the regular season and will open the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Championships as the fourth seed hosting #5 Cabrini College on Tuesday in a quarterfinal match-up.

Alvernia 59, Swarthmore 50