BOX SCORE

Frederick, Md. (Jan. 21, 2013) – Alvernia University (7-9, 4-6) scored 15 of the first 20 points of the game and never trailed in a 79-61 win over Hood College (4-13, 2-8) Monday evening in Commonwealth Conference women's basketball action at Hood.

Chelsea Ebersole (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra) hit a pair of 3s during the opening run and finished with a career-high 24 points—the 14th time in 16 games this season she has reached double figures.  Sophomore point guard Kaitlyn Yoh (Wernersville, Pa./Conrad Weiser) scored 14 points, and senior Kayla Long (Manheim, Pa./Manheim Central) added 13.

Alvernia moves into a tie for fifth place with Lycoming in the Commonwealth.  Both are two games behind fourth-place Elizabethtown (6-4).

After the early 10-point lead, Alvernia's first-half lead grew to as many as 20 points, 38-18, late in the first half on Ebersole's third 3 of the half.  The 5-5 freshman guard leads the conference in 3s with 61.  She has three or more 3s in 13 of 16 games this season.  She is six 3s shy of the Crusaders' single-season record of 67 set by Hall of Famer Theresa Bray set back in the 1997-98 season.

Alvernia opened the second half with a bucket from Alisa Greco (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central) to push the lead back to 20 points and held it at 15 or better the rest of the way.

The Crusaders shot a season-best 50 percent from the floor going 22-of-44, including an 8-for-17 effort from the 3-point arc.  They have posted 41 percent or better in three straight games.

Alvernia went 27-for-42 from the free throw line breaking the team record of 40 free throw attempts in a game, something the Crusaders had done four times entering Monday—twice in the span on a month back in '91 and most recently at Cabrini in February '07.  The '07 team holds the record for free throws made in a game hitting 34 of its 40 attempts.

Alvernia returns home to host Lycoming on Wednesday and break the tie for fifth place in the Commonwealth.

Alvernia 79, Hood 61