BOX SCORE

Aston, Pa. (Jan. 28, 2010) - Neumann University (14-4) scored 10 of the last 12 points of the game to earn a 78-73 win over Alvernia University (8-7) Thursday evening in non-conference women's basketball action at The Mirenda Center.

Alvernia scored eight straight points to erase a five-point deficit and take a 71-68 lead with 4:28 left, but only hit one of its last seven shots, an Alex Velazquez (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) layup, as the Knights rallied for victory.

Velazquez led the Crusaders with 25 points and junior Kelli McIntyre (Orwigsburg, Pa./Blue Mountain) scored 23 points including the 1,000th of her career on a jumper at the 5:20 mark of the first half.  Angela Altemose (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity BVM) reached double figures with 10 points and a game-high 13 rebounds.  Defending CSAC Player of the Year Brittany Whetts scored 25 points to lead the Knights.

Neumann exacted a bit of revenge for a 22-point ECAC Quarterfinal loss at Alvernia last March, a game in which they spoiled a 17-point first-half lead.  The Knights built the same advantage on Thursday taking a 31-14 lead 7:33 before halftime.

Alvernia cut that gap to three points with a 19-5 run over the next six minutes and settled for a four-point deficit at halftime, 39-35.  Velazquez and McIntyre led Alvernia with eight and seven points respectively during the run and the Knights turned the ball over five times and went 3-for-8 from the floor.

Neumann built the second half lead up to 10 points at the 14:00 mark and held a five-point lead with 7:04 to play.

Joanna Graber (Manalapan, N.J./Notre Dame) pulled Alvernia within three points with a layup and McIntyre notched the second tie of the game at 68-all with one of her five 3s.  Altemose put the Crusaders up 71-68 with a three-point play before the Knights' finishing run.

Alvernia will return to the conference schedule Saturday when it hosts Elizabethtown College.

Neumann 78, Alvernia 73