BOX SCORE

Purchase, N.Y. (Mar. 7, 2009) - Fourth-seeded Alvernia University (18-10) struggled with the early scoring falling behind 19-3 over the first six minutes to #8 Juniata College (17-11) and the Golden Eagles never trailed in an 80-72 win Saturday afternoon in semifinal action of the ECAC South Region Women's Basketball Championships at Manhattanville's Kennedy Gym.

Juniata will face #7 Wesley College in Sunday's final.  The Wolverines dispatched on #3 Manhattanville 70-66 in the first semifinal game on Saturday.

Juniata's first half lead grew to as many as 17 points, 28-13 and the Crusaders trimmed it to nine points on a Kelli McIntyre (Orwigsburg, Pa./Blue Mountain) three-point play.

The second-half lead grew back to 17 points with eight minutes to play, and Alvernia didn't cut it back under 10 until the last bucket of the day.

Alex Velazquez (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) scored a game-high 26 points and McIntyre finished with 23.  Juniata put six players in double figures led by Jen Hnatuck who tallied 16.

#8 Juniata 80, #4 Alvernia 72