BOX SCORE

Dallas, Pa. (Jan. 21, 2008) – Alvernia College surrendered a 10-2 game-opening run at Misericordia University and never led in a 69-61 loss to the Cougars Monday evening in Pennsylvania Athletic Conference women's basketball action at the Anderson Center.

In a meeting of two teams with a 4-1 record in conference play, Misericordia (9-5, 5-1 PAC) got back-to-back 3s and then four straight points from junior Lacey Degraw (Tyler Hill, Pa./Honesdale) to open up a 10-2 lead with just only five minutes gone. Alvernia (5-10, 4-2 PAC) answered with a 10-3 run to trim that lead down to a point, 13-12, at the 10:04 mark. Senior Jill Rosolie (Quarryville, Pa./Solanco) led the way with five of her team-high 19 points during the run.

Rosolie scored again a minute later to stay within one, but the Cougars ran off 11 of the next 14 points for a 26-17 lead with 3:36 showing on the first half clock. Alvernia cut that lead down to five with four straight points, but the Cougars pushed the lead to double figures by the half, taking a 33-23 into the break.

The second-half gap grew to 13 points, 39-26, and hit 14 points midway through the frame, 57-43. Alvernia cut the lead to single digits on three occasions later in the game, but could not get closer than nine until the final minute.

Alvernia freshman Alex Velazquez (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) joined Rosolie in double figures with 14. Degraw led the Cougars with a game-high 21 points. Amy Hughes (Scranton, Pa/Bishop Hannan) added 16 and Lyndsey Sykes (Avalon, N.J./Middle Township) pitched in 11 points on the strength of three 3s.

Alvernia forced the Cougars into 22 turnovers but could only muster 10 points of those miscues and allowed the hosts to shoot 53 percent from both the field and the 3-point arc. Velazquez paced the defensive efforts with a career-high six steals.

Alvernia will return home to host Cabrini College in a women's and men's doubleheader on Saturday at 1:00 and 3:00 p.m. Both games will be webcast live through the Alvernia website http://athletics.alvernia.edu.

Misericordia 69, Alvernia 61