BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Dec. 5, 2009) - Each of the three players in the starting front court for Alvernia University (4-1, 2-0) scored six buckets and each one tallied double figures to lead the Crusaders to an 83-70 win over Albright College (2-4, 0-2) Saturday afternoon in Commonwealth Conference women's basketball action at the Physical Education Center.

Sophomore center Angela Altemose (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity BVM) led the way for the hosts.

"Look at the production," exclaimed head coach Kevin Calabria seemingly stunned by the numbers Altemose posted in a short amount time.  "Seventeen points, 11 rebounds in just 23 minutes...that's beautiful."

The 6-foot center, who finished 6-for-11 from the floor, threw in six steals for good measure.  Junior Alex Velazquez (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) scored 16 points on 6-for-17 shooting and had seven rebounds.  Sophomore CeCe Buzzard (Willow Street, Pa./Solanco) finished with a dozen on an efficient 6-for-8 from the floor and grabbed five boards as the Crusaders posted a 39-34 advantage on the glass.

"CeCe was awesome today," continued Calabria.  "She was a real difference maker."

It was the first time the sophomore forward reached double figures since doing it back-to-back the first week of December a year ago.

The trio combined for 17 of the Crusaders' last 23 points of the first half on Saturday blowing a 24-23 lead into a 46-29 halftime advantage.  Alvernia held Albright scoreless for nearly five full minutes as it ran off 11 straight points to start the run, and capped it scoring the last seven points of the half over the final 80 seconds.  From the 9:27 mark until the halftime break Albright managed just two 3s going 2-for-11 from the floor with seven turnovers.

The second half lead was cut to 10 points, 48-38, but midway through the frame a fast break layup from Buzzard put the Crusaders ahead by 24 points, 65-41.

Albright then cranked up the offense hitting three of its seven 3s on the night in the next seven minutes and cutting the Crusaders' lead down to a skinny seven points, 71-64 with 2:37 to play, but Altemose asserted herself with an offensive putback and the foul to push the lead back to 10.

Velazquez was strong on a layup and Altemose cleaned up the board on the weak side and finished through the contact.

"That was on a missed shot," said Calabria somewhat surprised as he recalled the play later.  "Wow...that was the game right there."

Senior guard Joanna Graber (Manalapan, N.J./Notre Dame) followed hitting 5-of-6 free throws and the Crusaders cruised to the 13-point win.  Graber finished with nine points, five boards, and three assists.  Junior Lil Snyder (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter-Strasburg) scored 14 points.

Albright got a game-high 21 from Jessica McGinness and 11 and 10 from Rory Yerkes and Kari Ludy respectively.

Alvernia improves to 14-2 in the series with Albright and is off for finals and then the Christmas holiday and will return to action playing Richard Stockton on Jan. 2 at the Gettysburg New Year's Tournament.

Alvernia 83, Albright 70