BOX SCORE | PHOTOS

Reading, Pa. (Jan. 19, 2011) - Widener University (13-4, 4-2) overcame a 19-point first-half deficit and hit the game-winner with two seconds to play in a 69-68 win over Alvernia University (9-7, 3-3) Wednesday evening in Commonwealth Conference women's basketball action at the Physical Education Center.

"We kicked away a 19-point lead and I'm not even sure how it happened," said Alvernia head coach Kevin Calabria.

Alvernia led 35-16 with 4:51 left in the first half, but saw that dwindle to just five points, 37-32 at the break.  The Crusaders led by 16 points, 36-20 with 2:20 left in the half, but Widener rattled off nine of the next 10 points over the next two minutes then hit a 3 at the first half buzzer to cut it to five.

Widener scored the first six points of the second half to completely erase the deficit, and after just one tie in the first half, the second half saw the score level eight times, the last on the first of two free throws from Alvernia senior Lil Snyder (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter Strasburg) that put the Crusaders up 68-67 with 11 seconds to play.

Widener inbounded after the second free throw and pushed the ball to Kate Dellinger, who finished with a game-high 30 points.  The Alvernia defense forced Dellinger to give it up as she drove past the right elbow.  She got the ball to Vanessa Hejnas near the foul line and the sophomore forward calmly knocked down the jumper from there.

Alvernia had one final chance, inbounding with 2.6 seconds left, and had the ball in the front court, but couldn't get a shot off before the final horn.

"We gave it all we had," said Calabria, somewhat exhausted and largely dejected.  "It was one heck of a college basketball game.  They made the last shot of the game."

Hejnas and Dellinger were the only two players to reach double figures for the Pride.  Alvernia was led by Altemose who scored 20 points to go with 12 rebounds.  Julie Hahn (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) scored 15 points and Shanaye Glenn (Coatesville, Pa./The Hill School) added 10.

Alvernia heads to Lycoming College to continue the first trip through the conference schedule on Saturday with Calabria taking a second crack at career win number 400.

Widener 69, Alvernia 68