Reading, Pa. (Nov. 30, 2022) - Alvernia University (5-3, 1-0) used a full team effort and a 30-point fourth quarter to down Widener University (2-5, 0-1) 78-67 to open MAC Commonwealth play in the win column in women's basketball action on Wednesday night at Alvernia's Jack McCloskey Court.

The Golden Wolves had five players reach double-digit scoring and Alvernia was .500 from beyond the arc for the first time this season and first time since January 2019. Alvernia also forced 18 turnovers and had ten steals. The Golden Wolves also blocked seven shots and were 16-for-22 from the line.

The win marks Alvernia's first win over Widener since an overtime victory in January of 2017. It is also the first time since the 2014-15 season that Alvernia opens MAC Commonwealth play with a win.

The Pride opened the game on a 6-0 run over the opening 2:40, but a 3-pointer from Taliyah Malone put Alvernia on the board. A second 3-pointer by Jordan Karmonick on Alvernia's next possession got the Golden Wolves within two, 8-6.

Alvernia was held to just two points over the next five minutes as the Pride pushed their lead to 11 points, 19-8. A putback jumper by Cathryn Kramer with 56 seconds remaining in the opening quarter ended Alvernia's scoreless drought and got the Golden Wolves back within single digits, 19-10. Kayla Williams closed out the quarter with a last second 3-pointer to make it a six point game, 19-13, going into the second frame.

The Golden Wolves came into the second quarter firing and three quick layups by Kramer, Williams, and Karmonick evened the game up at 19-19 after a 1:31 of second quarter action.

Williams knocked down a three on Alvernia's next possession to give the Golden Wolves their first lead of the game, 22-19.

Alvernia had back-to-back steals to keep the Pride off the board for the next 1:19, but Alvernia was unable to capitalize on either steal. The Pride evened it up at 22-22 on a 3-pointer by Gianna Samuels with 6:42 to play in the half. Both teams then went scoreless for the next two and a half minutes until two made free throws by Williams broke the break in scoring and put Alvernia back in front, 24-22.

Both teams traded baskets over the next three minutes until a 3-pointer by Williams marked the final points of the second quarter and put Alvernia in front 31-27 going into the second half.

A quick layup by Kramer off of the opening inbounds of the half extended Alvernia's lead to six, 33-27. The Pride put down a layup on their first possession of the half, but Malone scored Alvernia's next five points to push the Golden Wolves' lead to seven, 38-31.

The Pride found a quick 9-2 run to even the game up at 40 apiece with 4:25 to play in the third quarter.

The Golden Wolves and Pride then traded the lead six times over the final four minutes of the quarter as the Pride took a two point lead, 50-48, into the final frame.

Widener pushed it to a four point lead, 52-48, with a layup to open the quarter, but Alvernia responded with a layup from Tyra Robinson followed by a 3-pointer from Robinson off a turnover by the Pride to put the Golden Wolves back in front, 53-52.

Robinson's three sparked a 20-5 run by the Golden Wolves over the next four minutes as Alvernia took a 70-57 lead over the Pride with 4:33 remaining. The Run included five more points from Robinson, five points from Williams, and four points and two steals from Karmonick.

The Pride held Alvernia scoreless for the next two minutes while they scored three points off of free throws to make it a ten point game, 70-60.

The Golden Wolves and Pride traded free throws over the next minute and a half, and a 3-pointer by Widener's Ava Baer made it a seven point game, 72-65, with 35 seconds remaining. Alvernia never let the Pride get any closer while the Golden Wolves went 6-for-6 from the line in the final 20 seconds to close out the Pride for the 78-67 win. 

Alvernia finished the fourth quarter outscoring the Pride 30-17. Alvernia was 5-for-8 from beyond the arc in the second half, including a 4-for-6 performance in the fourth quarter.

Williams led Alvernia with a team-high 20 points and eight rebounds. She went 4-for-7 from beyond the arc and also added two blocks. Malone finished with 17 points and four rebounds. Karmonick finished with 15 points, four rebounds, and a team-high six assists. She was a perfect 8-for-8 from the free throw line. Robinson finished the game with 11 points, four assists, and five steals.

Alvernia is back in action on Saturday at Stevenson.