BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Jan. 11, 2007) – Senior guard Lauren Fortna (Lebanon, PA/Lebanon) tied her career-high with 24 points to lead Alvernia College to a 66-57 win over Arcadia University Thursday evening in Pennsylvania Athletic Conference women’s basketball action at the Physical Education Center.

            Alvernia dominated the first half in opening a 40-16 lead at the break and pushed the second half lead to as many as 31 points.  Freshman Janelle Richardson (Manor, DE/Delcastle) also reached double figures for the Crusaders with 10 points off the bench.

            Arcadia opened the scoring with a free throw, but Alvernia scored 20 of the next 24 for a 15-point lead with 9:08 left in the opening half.  Freshman Joanna Graber (Manalapan, NJ/Notre Dame) hit a pair of 3s as the Crusaders pushed the gap to 20 points, 28-8, and following back-to-back layups from Allee Barnes (Blooming Glen, PA/Pennridge), the hosts held a 24-point lead at the break.

            The teams traded hoops for the first four minutes of the second half, and following an Arcadia free throw, Alvernia rattled off six straight for a 29-point lead with 12:18 to play.  Fortna scored from the free throw line three minutes later, and the Crusaders enjoyed their largest lead of the game, 31-points, with 9:21 to play.

            Arcadia slowly chipped away at the lead, cutting the gap under double digits on a 3-point play by Caitlin Sparks (Harleysville, PA/Souderton) with 29 ticks left.  Senior forward Katie Lynch (Philadelphia, PA/Little Flower) led the Knights (3-9, 1-3 PAC) with 15 points and freshman guard Ashley Heakins (Murrysille, PA/Franklin Regional) scored 13 points.

            Alvernia will continue the conference schedule on Saturday with an afternoon game at Marywood.

Alvernia 66, Arcadia 57