Reading, Pa. (Jan. 14, 2015) - Alvernia University (6-8, 2-4) pushed ahead in the final minutes to lock up a 78-74 win over Widener University (8-8, 3-4) Wednesday evening in Commonwealth Conference action.
Up 38-27 to open the second half, Widener University maintained its lead throughout the first nine minutes. The Crusaders threated a comeback early in the half as
Stevie Fortna drained a three at 17:35 to bring Alvernia within six at 42-36. The Pride answered with eight consecutive points, stretching out its lead 50-36. Both team exchanged baskets over the next six minutes until
Katie Schickling sparked the real retaliation at 11:11. Down 56-44, Schickling netted the first of 15 unanswered points. After putting down the three,
Tyra Roberts,
Alaysia Khan and Schickling strung together jumpers before
Jenna Wolff tacked on the equalizing three to tie the game 56-56. Roberts then used a jumper and free throw to take the Crusaders up 59-56.
Widener regained the lead with 6:44 left in the half after a three by Kristina Reiter tied it and Allison Gallagher made the 61-59 go ahead. Roberts kept the Pride's answer short-lived, as she made another jumper to make it 61-61. Wolff then gave the Crusaders the 64-61 advantage on another drained 3-pointer, and Alvernia would not let it go. While the Pride made multiple attempts to cut into the Crusader lead, clutch shooting by Fortna kept things out of reach. Fortna responded to every Widener basket in the last four minutes of the game, nailing two 3-pointers, a jumper, and six free throws to secure the 78-74 victory.
The Pride and the Crusaders traded points early in the matchup, holding an 8-8 tie at 16:26 mark. Widener pushed ahead over the next five minutes, holding a 21-10 lead with 11 minutes left in the half. Jumpers by
Chelsea Ebersole and
Mya Lobb cut the margin to seven, but the Pride's Brianna Wylie tacked on four points while Reiter and Gallagher each added a bucket to move Widener ahead 28-14. Widener led by as much as 17 throughout the half, but a 3 from Khan and a bucket by Lobb in the last minute of the first half brought the Crusaders just 11 out, trailing Widener 38-27.
The Crusaders shot 60% from the field in the second half, and 57% from 3-point range. Fortna and Schickling both had career-high nights with Fortna knocking down 22 points and Schickling adding 15.
The Crusaders return to action on Saturday, continuing conference play as they head to Lebanon Valley College for a 1:00 pm tip-off.
