BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Nov. 20, 2007) – Alvernia College senior Jill Rosolie (Quarryville, Pa./Solanco) had a look from the arc and a put-back attempt in the lane on the final possession, but could not convert and Albright College escaped the Physical Education Center with a 66-65 win Tuesday evening in non-conference women's basketball action.

Freshman Tracee Harrison (Willow Street, Pa./Solanco) totaled a game-high 15 points to lead the Crusaders (1-2) and Albright got a balanced effort led by a dozen from senior forward Jacqueline Hardwick (Dallas, Pa./Dallas). Albright, which started the series between the two Reading-area schools with 12 straight losses, has now defeated the Crusaders in back-to-back seasons.

The familiar rivals used the first 19 minutes of the game to get reacquainted with neither team holding a lead more that four points until the final minute of the half. Albright opened the scoring with a pair of free throws at 19:03 and Jill Rosolie's (Quarryville, Pa./Solanco) bucket at 17:05 tied the score at 2-all and was the only other scoring in the first four minutes.

Albright junior Annie McMahon (Havertown, Pa./Haverford) knocked down a 3 to push the Lions' lead to three and two minutes later Alvernia junior Michelle Lutzkanin (Hummelstown, Pa./Lower Dauphin) dropped in her first of two first-half 3s and the Crusaders forced the second tie of the game, 9-9.

Albright scored again on a pair of free throws and Lutzkanin's second 3 gave the host Crusaders their first lead of the half at 12-11 with 11:22 on the clock. The lead shifted back and forth over the next three minutes before Albright put together a 4-0 spurt for a 20-16 lead.

Alvernia quickly erased the lead forcing the fifth and final tie of the half at 20-20. Freshman Kayla Colon (Columbia, Pa/Columbia) scored on a pair of free throws and August Reichart (Kenhorst, Pa./Governor Mifflin) scored two following an offensive rebound to knot the score.

The Lions answered to reestablish the lead and following a pair of Janelle Richardson (Manor, Del./Delcastle) free throws, Albright ran off five straight to open up a seven point lead with 49 seconds left in the half. Richardson stopped that run with a short range jumper and Albright hit the break with a 34-29 lead.

Harrison opened the second half with two free throws to cut the gap to three, 34-31, and after a Charlotte Ciccone (Drexel Hill, Pa./Upper Darby) jumper, Alvernia rattled off six straight points sparked by four from Ashley Blevins (York, Pa./Central York), to take a 37-36 lead with 14:49 to play.

Hardwick stopped the streak with a layup and the lead change hands three times before Alvernia settled in with a five-point burst for a 44-40 lead with 12:07 to play.

Albright erased that and more with six straight points and after a series that included nine ties in nine minutes, the Lions ran off a 6-1 run over a 90-second span to take a 66-61 lead with 34 seconds left.

Alvernia freshman Kelli McIntyre (Orwigsburg, Pa./Blue Mountain) knifed through the prevent defense for a layup to pull within three, and after Ciccone missed the front of a 1-and-1, Rosolie's layup pulled Alvernia within one, 66-65.

The next Alvernia foul send Albright to the line for a pair, but Hardwick missed both leaving the door open for the Crusaders with 14 ticks left. McIntyre drove right on a clear out, and when progress was stopped, kicked the ball over to Rosolie at the left elbow. Her initial 3-point attempt was short, but she collected her own rebound in the middle of the lane and was tied up by the Lions' defense as the horn sounded.

Alvernia will have a week to prepare for Richard Stockton University which will visit the PEC next Wednesday.

Albright 66, Alvernia 65