Gwynedd Valley, Pa. (Dec. 15, 2018) - Alvernia University (3-7) outscored Gwynedd Mercy University (6-6) 27-18 in the fourth quarter, but the Golden Wolves comeback efforts fell short as the Griffins took the 75-64 win in non-conference women's basketball action at Gwynedd Mercy on Saturday afternoon.
Alvernia trailed by 22 points with just under nine minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, but the Golden Wolves went on a 27-11 run over the next eight minutes, and trailed by just six points with a minute remaining. The Griffins held Alvernia scoreless in the final minute to take the win.
Gwynedd Mercy opened up the scoring with a three, and quickly jumped to an 8-0 lead after just under three minutes of action. Alvernia came out of a timeout firing, and
Gabriella DeVito got the Golden Wolves on the board with a three of her own. DeVito cut the Griffins lead to three with a jumper with 5:52 left in the first.
Maya Cooper converted a shot with just under four minutes remaining in the first quarter to bring Alvernia within one, but the Griffins responded on their next possession to extended their lead back to three and make the score 12-9.
Two converted free throws from
Abbie Zerbe again brought the Golden Wolves back within one with three minutes left in the first quarter.
The Griffins and Golden Wolves went back and forth in the final three minutes of the first frame, with the Griffins holding the 17-15 advantage after one.
DeVito tied it at 17-17 on the first possession of the second quarter, and the Golden Wolves took a 20-19 lead a few minutes later off an Abbie Zerbie free throw.
Gwynedd Mercy responded with a layup on their next possession to retake the lead. The Griffins would go on to hold Alvernia to just six points over the next seven minutes, while scoring 22 of their own, to take a 41-26 advantage into the half.
The Griffins held Alvernia scoreless in the opening four minutes of the second half and held a 24 point advantage with six minutes remaining in the third quarter.
The Golden Wolves struggled to cut into the Griffins lead and trailed by 20 entering the fourth quarter.
The Griffins would convert two free throws to make it 59-37 before Cooper hit a three to set off a scoring run for the Golden Wolves.
The Golden Wolves held the Griffins to just 11 points over the next eight minutes while scoring 27 of their own. With just over a minute remaining, DeVito hit a three to bring Alvernia within six.
The Griffins called a timeout, and held the Golden Wolves scoreless the rest of the way. Gwynedd Mercy made a layup coming out of its timeout and made three free throws to take the 75-64 win.
DeVito led the Golden Wolves with a career-high 26 points.
Torie Zerbe was one point shy of a double-double, finishing with nine points and ten rebounds.
Shannon Carroll led the Griffins with 21 points and 11 rebounds.
Alvernia returns to the court in Puerto Rico for the Puerto Rico Clasico. The Golden Wolves will face Hanover College on Wednesday at 2:00 PM.
Gwynedd Mercy 75 Alvernia 64
