Oswego, NY (Nov. 20, 2015) -  Houghton College (2-0) used small margins across all four quarters to claim a 56-50 win over Alvernia University (56-50) Friday evening in game one of the Oswego State Women's Basketball Tournament hosted by Oswego State University.

Houghton advances to the championship game and will face the winner of Oswego State vs. Wells on Saturday 4:00. Alvernia will take the court at 2:00 Saturday for the consolation game.

The Crusaders opened strong, holding tight to their lead for the first eight minutes. After starting with a 2-0 lead on a pair of free throws by Kim Whelan, Alvernia used the foul line to answer every equalizer made by the Highlanders. A jumper by Logan Focht, a 3 by Stevie Fortna, and an 8-for-8 performance from the line gave the Crusaders the 13-11 lead with two minutes left in the first quarter. However, Houghton balanced out a pair for free throws by Jenna Wolff and tacked on a jumper to take the 17-15 margin into the second quarter.

The two teams exchanges buckets to open the second quarter, with Alvernia reclaiming the lead with just over three minutes left in the quarter. Olivia Andrefski put the Crusaders up 23-21, and Chelsea Ebersole responded to a Highlander jumper with a 3 to hold a one point margin a minute before the half. Houghton pushed in two more before the buzzer, going into the half ahead 29-26.

Alvernia took the lead back once in the third quarter, using a Logan Focht layup to take the edge on Houghton 35-34. The Highlanders quickly reclaimed the advantage, and used a pair of layups to enter the fourth quarter up 40-36. 

The Crusaders came within 1 three times in the final quarter, even getting back on top 44-43 with just under six minutes left when Focht drained one from beyond the arc. Houghton stayed tough, reestablishing its leads and holding on for the 56-50 victory.

Focht scored a career and team high 13 points with three steals. Wolff knocked in 9 for the Crusaders, while Ebersole had 7.

Houghton 56, Alvernia 50