Reading, Pa. (Jan. 4, 2017) - Arcadia University (5-8, 1-3) shot 77% from the line to capture a 73-61 win over Alvernia University (0-13, 0-5) Wednesday evening in MAC Commonwealth Women's Basketball action at Jack McCloskey Court.

Squared at 31 entering the second half, the Knights pulled ahead 37-31 across the first four minutes. A layup and a free-throw by Liv Andrefski brought the Crusaders back within three, but Arcadia drained a trio from beyond the arc in the closing three minutes to push its lead out to 12. With a minute left in the third, Andrefski put away a pair from the line before Maya Cooper closed the quarter with a layup to pull within eight, 50-42.

Cooper kept her stride to start the fourth, opening with a 3-point play and responding to a 5-0 Arcadia run to keep the Crusaders close, 55-49. Miranda Hoover and Kiersten Ingram joined Cooper in an attempt to cut the deficit as the Crusaders stayed within five at 61-56. However with less than two minutes remaining, Arcadia capitalized on Alvernia's need to foul, shooting 11-for-14 from the line to seal the victory.

The Crusaders showed their resilience early on, putting together an 11-4 run to finish the first quarter after falling behind 9-0 to start the contest.

Alvernia took its first lead of the matchup 2 minutes into the second when Kiersten Ingram nailed her second 3 of the day to take the 17-15 advantage. The Crusaders extended their lead to seven with a Hoover bucket and an Abbie Zerbe 3, but Arcadia regained the lead 26-22 with just under four minutes remaining until the half.

Ingram turned the tide again a minute later, following up a pair of free-throws from Andrefski with another from beyond the arc to go ahead 27-26. Andrefski then went a perfect 4-for-4 from the line, but Arcadia was clutch as well, going 5-for-6 in a two minute span to knot the game 31-31 at halftime.

Maureen Fiocca and Susan Bossler both shot double digits for the Knights with 27 and 22 points, respectively.

Cooper was the top scorer for Alvernia with 19 points, while Ingram and Andrefski added 14 and 11. Hoover collected a team-high 11 boards.

The Crusaders will take a day break before returning to their home court on Friday, hosting  Frankin and Marshall in a non-conference matchup at 7:00 pm.