York, Pa. (Dec. 14, 2022) - Alvernia University (7-4, 3-0) got off to a strong start and never looked back as the Golden Wolves ran by York College (3-6, 1-3) 72-54 on Wednesday night in MAC Commonwealth women's basketball action at York.

With the win, Alvernia improves to 3-0 to open MAC Commonwealth play. It is the first time since Alvernia joined the MAC in 2008-09 that Alvernia started off 3-0 in conference play. The last time Alvernia went 3-0 to open conference play was in 2006-07, and Alvernia was a member of the PAC at the time.

Alvernia opened the scoring with a 3-pointer by Tamia Wessels on the first possession of the game. The Spartans responded with a putback layup on the next possession, and evened it up at 3-3 on a free throw two minutes later.

A jumper from just inside the arc by Kelly Fetter put Alvernia back in front with the early 5-3 lead, but the Spartans matched Fetter's jumper with one of their own and took the 8-5 lead a short time later on a 3-pointer.

York held the lead for just over 90 seconds but went scoreless for the final 5:44 of the quarter.  A quick five points off a jumper and 3-pointer by Tyra Robinson gave Alvernia back the lead, 10-8, with 4:06 to play in the first quarter. The Golden Wolves then tacked on five more to its lead following a Malone three and Cathryn Kramer jumper to take 15-8 lead into the second quarter.

A 3-pointer by Kayla Williams opened the second quarter and gave Alvernia its first double-digit lead of the night. The Spartas then rattled off six straight points to get within four, 18-14, until a 3-pointer by Malone got Alvernia back on track with 7:55 to play in the first half.

Just under two minutes later, a 5-point burst by Jordan Karmonick extended Alvernia's lead back up into double-digits, 28-16, with about five minutes to play in the half.

Alvernia's lead hovered around 12 points for most of the remainder of the half, and Alvernia nearly took the 12 point lead into the break until York's Savannah Wilson knocked down a buzzer-beating three to make it a nine point game, 36-27, going into the third quarter.

Williams opened the second half scoring for Alvernia with a layup to make it 38-27. Three minutes later, a putback layup by Malone extended the Alvernia lead to 13, 42-29, with 6:23 to play. The Spartans would not get any closer the rest of the way.

Alvernia put its foot on the gas over the course of the next two minutes, and a 3-pointer by Karmonick gave Alvernia its largest thus far, 50-29, with 4:45 to play in the third.

The Spartans went on a quick 7-2 run over the next minute, but could not make much of a dent in Alvernia's lead. Back-to-back driving layups and converted and-one opportunities by Robinson and Meghan Ruth pushed Alvernia's lead back up to 20, 58-38, with 1:10 to play in the third. The Golden Wolves took a 58-40 lead into the final frame.

Alvernia continued to stay hot in the final ten minutes as Malone opened the scoring with her third 3-pointer of the night to give Alvernia the 21 point lead, 61-40.

Alvernia continued to pressure the Spartans in the fourth quarter, as the Golden Wolves drove their lead up to as much as 27, 72-45, on a stepback jumper by Kramer with three minutes to play.

The Spartans scored the final seven points of the game, but Alvernia came away with its sixth double-digit win of the season.

Malone led Alvernia with 15 points and nine rebounds. Karmonick finished with a team-high ten rebounds and also scored nine points. Kramer finished with six blocks and nine rebounds.

Alvernia is back in action on Saturday as the Golden Wolves host rival Albright at 1:00 PM.