BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Feb. 26, 2008) – Fourth-seeded Gwynedd-Mercy put four players in double-figures to offset a game-high 30 points from junior Terrence Shawell (Pottstown, Pa./Pottstown) in a 73-66 win over top-seeded Alvernia College Tuesday evening in semifinal action of the Pennsylvania Athletic Conference Championships at the Physical Education Center.

The Griffins (19-8) will travel to #2 Immaculata for Friday's Final at 7:00 p.m. Junior Dave Smith (Cape May C.H., N.J./Middle Twp.) scored a team-high 18 points for the Griffins who got 16 from Matt Johnson (Philadelphia, Pa./Strawberry Mansion) and 10 each from Haven Wroten (Philadelphia, Pa./Prep Charter) and Lemeire Talley (Blackwood, N.J./Highland).

Alvernia (16-10) cut a 10-point deficit, 63-53, down to two with a 9-1 run. Shawell scored all nine on the run from all over with a one of his six 3s, two jumpers, and a dunk. He had another look at a 3 from the left corner that would have given the Crusaders the lead with under three minutes to play, but it rimmed out and the Griffins answered with six straight to build a comfortable lead.

The Crusaders had looks at two other 3s in the final minutes that could have led to a different outcome, but they didn't find their way through either. Alvernia finished the game 22-for-69 from the floor, just 32 percent, its second worst shooting effort of the year. The worst of the season was a 30 percent effort in a 76-62 regular season loss at Gwynedd-Mercy.

The percentage dropped on Tuesday when the Crusaders moved beyond the arc as they hit just 11 shots in 36 attempts from 3-point range. Sophomore Matt King (Phoenixville, Pa./St. Pius X) and junior David Washington (Durham, N.C./Northern Durham) combined to shoot 1-for-14 from beyond the arc.

Alvernia fell behind early as Smith scored four straight in a 7-2 game-opening run. Alvernia came back with a 9-0 run, on three 3s from Shawell, to take its largest lead of the game, a four-point spread 11-7. GMC ended the streak with a 3 and Smith's layup put the Griffins back up one. The guests hit 10-of-21 3s, 48 percent.

Shawell hit his fourth 3 but Johnson answered it. Then Shawell hit a jumper that Smith answered. The 6-7 GMC forward added another layup to push the lead to three, but Alvernia took it back with four straight.

Smith hit a free throw and Johnson a 3 to give the Griffins a lead they never lost. Alvernia sophomore Charlie Hughes (Kenhorst, Pa./Governor Mifflin) hit two 3s in the final three minutes of the first half to keep Alvernia close, but the Griffins answered both of those for a five point lead, 33-28 at the break.

Alvernia trimmed the lead in the second half to three points when King and Shawell hit a pair of 3s in a two-minute stretch, but the Griffins scored eight straight capped by back-to-back 3s from Johnson and Talley for an 11-point lead, 49-38 with 11:44 to go.

The lead remained 10 with 5:32 to go before Shawell scored nine straight.

Alvernia will await a possible bid into the Eastern College Athletic Conference South Tournament on Monday afternoon.

#4 Gwynedd-Mercy 73, #1 Alvernia 66