BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Feb. 8, 2007) – Freshman guard Joanna Graber (Manalapan, NJ/Notre Dame) led five players in double figures with a career-high 19 points as Alvernia College posted its highest scoring output in a 100-60 win over Penn State-Berks Thursday evening in non-conference women’s basketball action at the Physical Education Center.

            Alvernia seniors Lauren Fortna (Lebanon, PA/Lebanon Catholic) and Kerry Higgs (Westminster, MD/Westminster) and junior Jill Rosolie (Quarryville, PA/Solanco) each scored 13 points and freshman Janelle Richardson (Manor, DE/Delcastle) added 10.  Higgs also added eight rebounds and five assists for the Crusaders (13-9).  PSU was led by Aby Gensemer (Denver, PA/Cocalico) who scored 15.  Jennifer Joyce (Ardmore, PA/Harriton) and Tiffany Harris (Philadelphia, PA/Merion Mercy Academy) added 12 each for the Lions (7-15).

            Penn State started strong taking a 9-4 lead following a Karley Werth (Harleysville, PA/Souderton) 3, but that lead was short-lived as Alvernia needed just over a minute to tie the scored at 9-all and Graber knocked down a 3 to finish off a 17-2 run that put the hosts up 21-11.

            PSU cut that deficit to six with four straight points, but Alvernia came back with an 18-4 run to open up a 20-point lead with 5:32 left in the first half.  Sophomore reserve Tenay Gaddy (LaPlata, MD/McDonough) scored her only bucket of the half at the 3:45 mark to give Alvernia its largest lead of the half, a 22-point edge, 43-21.

            PSU held Alvernia off the board for the rest of the half scoring eight unanswered points to hit the break down 14 points, 43-29.  Graber, who hit three 3s in the opening 20 minutes, led all players at the half with 13 points.

            Graber opened the second half with a 3 and the Crusaders quickly built the lead back to 20.  It grew to as many as 44 points on a Gaddy layup with 3:35 to play, and the Crusaders settled for the 40-point victory in the first ever meeting between the two Reading schools.

            Alvernia will return to action on Saturday hosting Marywood University in a conference doubleheader.

Alvernia 100, Penn State-Berks 60