BOX SCORE

Lancaster, Pa. (Nov. 18, 2007) – Franklin & Marshall scored 13 of the first 15 second-half points to build on a five-point halftime lead and cruised to a 77-48 win over Alvernia College Sunday afternoon in the championship game of the Terry Greene Women's Basketball Tip-Off Tournament at the Mayser Center.

Alvernia took the opening tip and quickly fed the ball into freshman Alexandra Velazquez (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) who scored on a layup to put the Crusaders (1-1) up 2-0, but F&M knocked down a 3 on its first possession and never trailed.

The Diplomats went on to score eight straight, but Alvernia responded with six in a row to knot the score at 8-8. Alvernia senior Jill Rosolie (Quarryville, Pa./Solanco), who finished with a team-high 12 off the bench, scored on a jumper with 5:41 left in the first half to pull the Crusaders within one at 20-19. The hosts pushed that lead to six points with 3:28 on the clock and settled for a 31-26 lead at the break.

Alvernia scored the first bucket of the second half when Ana Nieves (Reading, Pa./Greater New Bedford) finished a feed from Velazquez, but F&M again responded with a run, this time 13 straight for a 44-28 lead and the Diplomats pushed the lead to as many as 29 points late in the game.

Velazquez finished with 10 points and a team-best seven rebounds and F&M put three different players in double-figures led by Sarah Meisenberg who tallied 20. Alvernia freshman Kelli McIntyre (Orwigsburg, Pa./Blue Mountain), who scored 19 on Saturday, was named to the All-Tournament Team.

Alvernia will return home to host crosstown rival Albright College in the home opener on Tuesday.

Franklin & Marshall 77, Alvernia 48