Emory, Virginia (Dec. 29, 2014) - Freshman Olivia Andrefski hit four out of seven 3s and scored a team-high 16 points to lead Alvernia University (5-4) to a 69-62 win over Meredith College (0-5) in the opening game of the Comfort Inn Holiday Tournament Monday evening at Emory & Henry.

Andrefski has now scored double digits in three straight games for the Crusaders who nearly gave up an 14-point, second-half lead before a strong finish.

Andrefski was 2-for-3 from the arc and hit a pair of free throws in the first half as the Crusaders built a 33-24 lead at the break.

She hit a pair of 3s in the first two minutes of the second half as Alvernia pushed out to a 39-25 lead with 18 minutes left to play.

Meredith started a comeback with a jumper from Danielle Lee that was the first two of six straight to pull Meredith within eight points, 39-31.  The gap was down to just one, 51-50, when Kim Hinton scored in the paint with better than eight minutes to go.

Mya Lobb scored four and Kaitlyn Yoh added a pair as the Crusaders responded with six straight to reestablish a comfortable margin.

The lead was four or more until the final minute when Brittaney Rice hit a 3 to pull Meredith within three points, 63-60, but Alvernia scored six of the final eight for the seven point win.

Alvernia will face either Emory & Henry or Centenary in the championship game on Tuesday at 8:00 p.m.

Lobb finished with 13 points and Logan Focht added 11 for the Crusaders.  Hayes finished with a game-high 19 points.

Alvernia 69, Meredith 62