Reading, Pa. (Jan. 8, 2008) – One of a few marked dates on the Alvernia College basketball schedule is almost here. This Thursday Men's Basketball will travel to Ivy League favorite Cornell University for a match-up with the Big Red and Women's Basketball will host #6 Messiah College.

Both games start at 7:00 p.m. and can be viewed via webcast through both host websites. The women's game with Messiah is available for free at http://athletics.alvernia.edu. The men's game at Cornell can be seen for a nominal pay per view fee at http://www.cornellbigred.com. Both sites have a link in the right hand column for access to the game feed.

Messiah will come to Reading on a four-game win streak following its only loss of the season, a 70-69, overtime decision at Baruch. The Falcons (12-1) and the Crusaders (3-6) have one common opponent this season, St. Mary's (Md.). Messiah downed the Seahawks by five while the Crusaders lost to St. Mary's 76-66 in the consolation game of the Sunsational Hoops Classic in St. Thomas.

The Crusaders are on a three-game losing streak after dropping their first game back on the mainland at Muhlenberg, 78-72. Senior Jill Rosolie (Quarryville, Pa./Solanco) leads the team in scoring at 10.6 points per contest and Tracee Harrison (Willow Street, Pa./Solanco) also averages double digits at 10.0 points. Harrison and fellow freshman Alex Velazquez (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) lead the efforts on the glass at 5.6 and 4.0 rebounds per game.

Alvernia is 1-2 against Messiah entering Thursday's game having defeated the Falcons in 1999 and losing twice in January 2004. The Falcons are led by senior guard Nikki Lobach (Hanover, Pa./South Western) who averages 17.5 points per game. Lobach is shooting 62 percent from the floor and 87 percent on 70 free throws through 13 games.

In men's action Alvernia enters the game at Cornell following a loss at Franklin & Marshall in the championship game of the Sponaugle New Year's Tournament. The Big Red returns home after a nationally televised 14-point loss at #8 Duke. Cornell (6-5) has three players averaging double figures led by sophomore guard Ryan Wittman (Eden Prairie, Minn./Eden Prairie) at 15.6 points per game. Fellow sophomore Louis Dale (Birmingham, Ala./Altamont School) averages 13.9 points per game and has a team-best 63 assists in 11 games.

The Crusaders (4-5) are led by Terrence Shawell (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) at 18.1 points per game and Matt King (Phoenixville, Pa./St. Pius X) at 16.4. Junior center Tyrone Bradley (Chester, Pa./Chester) leads the team with 8.4 rebounds per game including 5.0 boards off the offensive glass.

This is the first game against a Division I opponent for Alvernia since the men's team lost at Lafayette 86-80 in November 2005.