Reading, Pa. (Jan. 20, 2016) – Albright College (15-2, 7-1)—ranked 19th and 23rd in two national polls—finished the third quarter on a 19-0 run on its way to a 79-61 win over Alvernia University (7-10, 2-6) Wednesday evening in MAC Commonwealth women's basketball action at The Bollman Center.
 
Alvernia got a jumper from Logan Focht to pull within two points, 37-35, but went 0-for-7 from the floor and turned the ball over three times over the final 5:20 of the quarter and faced a 56-35 deficit with 10 minutes to play.
 
Albright kept the lead at 18 of better the rest of the way.   The Lions put four players in double figures led by Emily O'Donnell and Shannon Thomas who scored 15 apiece.
 
Alvernia was led by Stevie Fortna who went 10-for-10 from the free throw line and scored 13 points.  Chelsea Ebersole added 10 for the Crusaders.
 
Albright led by seven points early, 9-2, and again at 14-7 with 1:59 left in the opening quarter, but Alvernia put together a 7-2 run to end the quarter capped by a layup from newly-added freshman Maya Cooper to set a 16-14 Albright lead after one.
 
Alvernia had the gap down to one, 21-20, on a corner 3 from Cooper with 1:44 left in the first half, but Albright scored four straight for a 25-20 lead at the break.
 
The lead was back down to one point on two occasions in the third quarter and two points before the decisive run.
 
Alvernia returns home Saturday to host Widener University.
 
19/23 Albright 79, Alvernia 61