Reading, Pa. (Jan. 29, 2022) - Alvernia University (8-9, 2-8) stormed back in the fourth quarter to force Stevenson University (9-9, 6-5) into overtime, but the Mustangs prevailed in overtime to come away with a 61-54 win over the Golden Wolves on Saturday afternoon in MAC Commonwealth women's basketball action at Alvernia's Jack McCloskey Court. 

Trailing Stevenson by ten, 41-31, going into the fourth quarter, Alvernia outscored the Mustangs 21-11 in the final ten minutes of regulation to force extra time. But, the Mustangs held Alvernia scoreless in the first four minutes of overtime while scoring six of their own. The Golden Wolves got within four, but the Mustangs held on for the 61-54 final. 

The Mustangs opened the scoring with a layup on their second possession of the game, but Alvernia quickly evened things up with a layup from Taliyah Malone. 

Just over two minutes later with 6:29 left in the first quarter, a layup from Tamia Wessels put Alvernia in front, 6-4. Ths Mustangs evened it up with two made free throws on their next possession, but both teams' scoring went cold for the next two and a half minutes.

A fastbreak layup from Cathryn Kramer broke the scoreless drought and put Alvernia back in front, 8-6, with 3:50 left in the first frame. 

After the Mustangs tied it back up at 8-8, Alvernia scored the final four points of the quarter off of field goals from Kayla Williams and Wessels to take a 12-8 advantage into the second quarter.

A layup from Tyra Robinson opened the second quarter scoring and put Alvernia up by six, 14-8, with just over nine minutes left in the first half.

A quick 7-0 run by the Mustangs over the next minute put Stevenson back in front, 15-14, with 8:03 left in the second quarter. 

Tyra Robinson regained the Alvernia lead, 16-15, with a jumper at the 6:22 mark. 

The Golden Wolves were held to just four points - all off the hands of Jannelle Robinson - the rest of the half as Stevenson built its lead to seven, 27-20, going into the break.

Alvernia came out of the half fast behind the offense of Wessels. The junior guard scored the first six points of the half to bring Alvernia back within one, 27-26, at the 7:20 mark of the third quarter.

A 3-pointer from Stevenson's Morgan Debeary ended Wessels run and put Stevenson back ahead by two possessions, 30-26.

Both teams went scoreless for the next three minutes, but another Mustang 3-pointer with 3:51 left in the third quarter extended Stevenson's lead to seven, 33-26.

The Mustangs continued to push and just under two minutes later they saw their lead build up to 13, 41-28, following a 3-pointer by Karleigh Leo.

While the Golden Wolves did not score a field goal the rest of the third quarter, they did convert three free throws to get within ten, 41-31, going into the final ten minutes of regulation.

Back-to-back layups from Williams opened the fourth quarter for Alvernia and brought the Golden Wolves storming back within six, 41-35, and a third layup from Jordan Karmonick made it a four point game, 41-37, with 7:03 to play. 

The Golden Wolves hovered within three-to-five points for the next three minutes, but a jumper from the Mustangs at the 4:18 mark put Stevenson ahead by seven, 48-41.

Alvernia kept pushing back and a layup from Karmonick followed by a step-back three from Malone brought Alvernia right back within two, 48-46, with 2:53 to play.

A jumper from Stevenson put the Mustangs back up by four, but another Malone three brought Alvernia within one, 50-49, with 48 seconds left in regulation.

On Stevenson's next possession, Malone forced a turnover at halfcourt and was quickly fouled by the Mustangs. Malone went to the line and made one of two to tie it up at 50-50.

The Mustangs collected the rebound off of Malone's missed attempt and drove down the court and made a quick layup to go back up by two, 52-50, with 41 seconds to play. 

The Golden Wolves answered with a Karmonick jumper to tie it up at 52-52 with 19 seconds left. 

The Mustangs got off a shot with six seconds left in regulation and Alvernia collected the rebound.

The Golden Wolves called a quick timeout to advance the ball and set up a play on the in bounds. A miscommunication forced an Alvernia turnover, but the Golden Wolves quickly got it back after forcing a turnover on the Mustangs' inbound. 

Karmonick sent off a hail mary at half court as the buzzer went off, but the shot bounced off the rim and forced the game into overtime. 

Alvernia struggled to find the momentum it ended regulation with entering the opening minutes of overtime, and the Mustangs took advantage. The Mustangs held Alvernia scoreless for the first four minutes of the five minute overtime while building up a six point lead of their own, 58-52.

Alvernia's only points of overtime came off of two made free throws by Wessels at the 1:06 mark. Stevenson went on to take the game, 61-54.

Wessels led Alvernia with a season-high 14 points and added six rebounds. Malone also finished in double-digits with ten points and also added six boards. Karmonick finished with ten boards and eight points, while Williams finished with eight points and nine rebounds. 

Alvernia returns to action on Wednesday hosting Eastern.