BOX SCORE
Elizabethtown, Pa. (Jan. 29, 2011) - Alvernia University (11-8, 4-4) scored just three points over the final five-plus minutes and dropped a 57-52 decision at Elizabethtown College (11-7, 3-5) Saturday afternoon in Commonwealth Conference women's basketball action.
The Crusaders went 4-3 the first time through the conference schedule with all three losses coming to the three teams above them in the standings. The playoffs, albeit a fourth seed and a trip to the top seed, are still in the cards if the Crusaders repeat that performance in the final seven games and continue keep the teams below you in just such a location.
Alvernia looked to be in fine shape when a jumper from
Angela Altemose (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity BVM) with 1:16 left in the first half capped an 11-0 run that left the Crusaders up 25-14, but Etown answered with five straight points over the final 76 seconds of the half to hit the break trailing by just six points, 25-19.
The Jays hit a 3 to open the second half and took the lead, 35-33 on another 3 with 13:35 to play. On the night the hosts hit six 3s on 21 attempts while the Crusaders managed half that -- three 3s on 10 attempts.
The lead exchanged hands a few times over the next six minutes with Alvernia pushing it to four points, 49-45 with 5:40 to go.
Etown hit a jumper and another triple to go back ahead by one, but Alvernia answered with a layup from
Lil Snyder (Lancaster, Pa./Lampeter Strasburg) at the 3:46 mark.
The Crusaders managed just one free throw on their final six possessions while the Jays scored seven of the game's final eight points for the 57-52 win.
The win pulls Etown within a game of Alvernia, which sits alone in fourth place. The two teams split the season series, so any tie would have to be broken by other results.
Altemose led the Crusaders with 15 points and 13 rebounds, recording her fifth straight double-double and 10th of the year.
Julie Hahn (Warrington, Pa./Central Bucks South) also reached double figures with 11. The Jays got a game-high 18 points from Kaity Snyder.
Alvernia returns home to face Arcadia on Wednesday.
Elizabethtown 57, Alvernia 52
