BOX SCORE

Glenside, Pa. (Feb. 3, 2010) - Junior forward Alex Velazquez (Lancaster, Pa./Manheim Township) scored seven of her team-high 20 points during a 23-6 second-half run that led Alvernia University (10-7, 6-3) to a 75-63 win over Arcadia University (5-14, 0-9) Wednesday evening in Commonwealth Conference women's basketball action at Arcadia.

"That's a combination of everybody playing well and everybody running the floor," said Alvernia head coach Kevin Calabria explaining his team's run that took the first nine-plus minutes of the second half.  "Our defense was definitely better. We were, I would say, friskier in the second half."

The lack of frisk in the first half left the Crusaders with just a six-point lead at the break, 28-22, over a team without a conference win and one they beat by 21 points three weeks ago.  Velazquez didn't take a shot from the floor over the first 20 minutes, and had two points going 2-for-2 from the free throw line.

"We told Alex at halftime that she needed to shoot 10 times per half," Calabria said of his halftime speech.  "She played a very solid second half.  She made some 12-footers -- which is good."

Velazquez was one of four players to reach double figures for the Crusaders, and with 12 rebounds she was one of two that posted a double-double.  Junior guard Kelli McIntyre (Orwigsburg, Pa./Blue Mountain) scored 15 points.  Sophomore forward Allie Toczylowski (Mantua, N.J./Clearview Regional) finished with 14 points and 13 boards, and sophomore guard Julie Hahn (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) added a dozen.

Calabria was once again impressed by the contributions from his sophomore starters, Toczylowski and Hahn.

"Allie T. had another double-double and she can even play better than that," Calabria said.  "And look at this line," he continued pouring over Hahn's night (12 points, four rebounds, two assists, three steals, one turnover), "Julie had another nice night.  I think she a positive assist-to-turnover every time she starts."

In her 11 starts this season Hahn has 32 helpers to 26 turnovers.

After jumping out to the 23-point lead midway through the second half, Alvernia led Arcadia back into the contest as the hosts trimmed the gap to 11 points, 58-47 with five minutes to play, but Alvernia scored five straight and held Arcadia off the board for three minutes to push the lead back to 16.

Kim Mulligan led the Knights with 23 points fueled by a 5-for-14 effort from behind the 3-point arc.

Alvernia returns home to host Penn State-Schuylkill on Thursday before hosting nationally ranked Messiah College on Saturday.

Alvernia 75, Arcadia 63