BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Feb. 18, 2010) - "That one was for Sister Pacelli," said Alvernia University head coach Kevin Calabria after his team used an inspired second-half effort in a 63-60 win over #16 Messiah College Thursday night.

Pacelli, who University President Dr. Tom Flynn referred to as an institutional treasure, passed away late Tuesday.

"We became close over the last five years," said Calabria, "I was her designated chauffeur.  If she needed a ride somewhere she would give me a call.  We would have breakfast after Sunday mass with a few other sisters.  It was almost like a standing offer."

Calabria is the only head coach the Crusaders have had.  He's in his 21st season and nearing 400 career victories.  He was thrilled to have beaten the 16th-ranked Falcons (20-4, 10-3) in what he called his team's "first signature win of the season." But the tone of his emotion becomes more defined as he realizes the true value of Thursday's win.

"It brings tears to my eyes," he said. 

He's wiping away tears of joy as he laughs while recounting stories of places he had driven Pacelli over the last few years.  Friday they'll likely to be some tears of sorrow when he serves as cross bearer during his final mass with the late Sister.

Thursday's game certainly did have the feeling of anything inspired over the first 20 minutes as the Crusaders (15-8, 9-4) fell behind by as many as 12 points in the first half and trailed by nine at the break, 30-21.

Junior guard Kelli McIntyre (Orwigsburg, Pa./Blue Mountain), who scored 17 of her game-high 21 in the second half, was the first to show signs of inspiration.  She opened the half with a layup and hit a 3 as Alvernia scored the first six points prompting a Messiah timeout.

"Kelli came out and got a basket early," recalled Calabria.  "I saw her during a foul shot and she was laughing, and that's a good thing.  She wasn't doing this..."

The verbose coach, who is just as likely to communicate with hand gestures or facial expressions, crumples his face and squints his eyes over a pursed frown.

McIntyre had that frown look as she struggled to find her shot during pregame warm up then hit just 1-of-5 from the floor in the first half.

The Falcons came back with back-to-back fast-break layups after the McIntyre 3 to push their lead back to seven points, 34-27 and held the same advantage two minutes later before the Crusaders ran off eight straight to take a one point lead.

After four ties over the next five minutes, the Falcons scored five straight for a 48-43 lead, but in the blink of an eye McIntyre rattled off seven in a row with a layup, a jumper, and a 3 to put the Crusaders back on top, 50-48.

Her jumper with 1:42 to go put Alvernia up three, 59-56, but Messiah cut it to one on a Dori Gyori jumper.

The Falcons decided to foul sophomore Julie Hahn (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) with a comfortable differential on the shot clock and Hahn, who finished with five points, five rebounds, and five assists, knocked down both free throws.

Gyori, who led Messiah with 18 points, score again in the paint to cut the Alvernia lead back to one, but Calabria showed some faith in his sophomore point guard going right back to Hahn.

"I wanted her to shoot the free throws," Calabria said of Hahn.  "She's our best foul shooter.  She was 5-for-6 tonight which just proves it."

Hahn didn't disappoint, knocking down both free throws to re-establish the three-point lead, then forced the Falcons' best 3-point threat, freshman Nicky Hess, into a miss from the arc and McIntyre cleaned up the rebound at the horn.

"I thought that was the play of the game, when Julie made Hess go left off the dribble to shoot the last 3," Calabria said.  "Going right she's going to have a pretty good look at that, and that kid can shoot."

Alvernia hosts Lebanon Valley on Saturday in the regular season finale.  The four playoff teams are set with Lebanon Valley as the top seed.  Messiah, Alvernia, and Widener will jostle for seeding on the final weekend.

Alvernia 63, #16 Messiah 60