BOX SCORE Reading, Pa. (Jan. 15, 2014) – Alvernia University (5-9, 1-6) had three players establish new career highs and snapped an 8-game losing skid with a 91-71 win over Widener University (9-5, 4-3) Wednesday evening in Commonwealth Conference women's basketball action at Jack McCloskey Court.
"It's just nice to get a win," said Alvernia head coach Kevin Calabria, visibly relieved after the game.
"Defense was the key and that's what we built the starting lineup on," continued Calabria. "After 12 games we just decided to find people that can guard."
The Crusaders started a game with an aggressive run for the first time in the last 10 games scoring the first seven points of the game. The defense forced a pair of turnovers in the first two minutes and forced the Pride into an 0-for-3 start from the floor.
On the offensive end
Tyra Roberts (Bensalem, Pa./Bensalem) opened the game with a jumper,
Kaitlyn Yoh (Wernsville, Pa./Conrad Weiser) followed with a layup, and
Chelsea Ebersole (Palmyra, Pa./Palmyra) hit her first 3 of the game.
All three players reached career highs by the end of the night. Roberts scored 22, Ebersole scored 26, and Yoh hit 9-of-10 from the floor and 13-of-14 from the free throw line for 31.
"Kate Yoh was a superstar tonight," said Calabria. "And we talked about it being in the making. I said to her the other day at practice, 'one of these days you're going to have 25.'"
Widener cut the first half deficit down to one, 11-10, getting six of its first 11 from Jen Egee. Egee finished with 34 of the Pride's 71.
Alvernia pushed its lead back to 10 points on back-to-back 3s from Ebersole and built the lead to 17 points by halftime, 46-29. Ebersole led the way with 21 points in the first half on a career-best seven 3s.
"Chelsea making those seven 3s in the first half was just huge," said Calabrian. "It made us feel comfortable."
Widener put together two runs in the second half, the first to pull within 10 points, 52-42 with 14:12 to play, then a second run to close the gap to five points, 59-54 on a 3 from Egee.
Alvernia called timeout after the Egee 3 and set up a play for Yoh who cut down the lane and scored with a scooping left hand. Egee answered that, but Alvernia scored four straight—two each from Alissa Grecco (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central) and Ebersole.
Egee followed with two free throws and Alvernia, freshman reserve
Taylor Eckley (Pottsville, Pa./Pottsville) knocked down a jumper to start a 13-2 run that put the Crusaders comfortably ahead.
"It's the smaller things," finished Calabria. "Alissa Grecco played really hard.
Mya Lobb played really hard. It's just nice to get a win in this doggone league."
The Crusaders look to start a modest streak hosting Elizabethtown on Saturday.
Alvernia 91, Widener 71
