BOX SCORE

Allentown, Pa. (Nov. 21, 2009) - Alvernia University (1-1) scored the last eight points of the first half to open up a 20-point lead at the break and cruised to an 81-59 win over Pitt-Bradford (1-3) in the consolation game of the 28th Annual Scotty Wood Women's Basketball Tournament at Muhlenberg College's Memorial Hall.

The Crusaders got a game-high 21 points from Angela Altemose (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity BVM), who was named to the All-Tournament team, and 28 total from the starting back court of Lil Snyder (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) and Joanna Graber (Manalapan, N.J./Notre Dame) who totaled 18 and 10 respectively a day after combining for six in a 10-point loss to #5 Scranton.

Alvernia earned its first real separation nearly nine minutes into the game when an Altemose layup put the Crusaders up 16-9.  The lead reached 11 on a Snyder jumper and was 12 with under two on the first half clock.

Sophomore CeCe Buzzard (Willow Street, Pa./Solanco) scored on a jumper and bookended a pair of free throws from both Snyder and Graber to put Alvernia up 51-31 at halftime.  It marked the first time the Crusaders put up 50 or more in a half since scoring 56 at Swarthmore nearly a year ago to the day.

Altemose started the second half with a layup, and that with a free throw from Alex Velazquez (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) were the only points in the first three-plus minutes of the half.

Pitt-Bradford trimmed the gap to 17 points on two occasions on the next few possessions, but Alvernia quickly pushed it to 25 with an 8-0 run fueled by buckets from four different players.

Pitt-Bradford responded with a run of its own to pull the gap down to 15 with under seven minutes to play, but go no closer the rest of the way.

Alvernia will return home to Reading to host Juniata College on Tuesday.

Alvernia 81, Pitt-Bradford 59

All-Tournament Team
MVP - Molly Klusek (Scranton)
Megan Kopecki (Scranton)
Alexandra Chili (Muhlenberg)
Sheila Cook (Muhlenberg)
Angela Altemose (Alvernia)