Reading, Pa. (Feb. 7, 2022) - After trailing Immaculata University (11-7) by ten with just over eight minutes to play, Alvernia University (10-10) closed out the fourth quarter on an 18-7 run to down the Mighty Macs 57-56 on Monday night in non-conference women's basketball action at Alvernia.

With the win, Alvernia improves to 10-10 overall. Alvernia's ten wins marks the most wins by the women's basketball program in a season in a decade. The Golden Wolves went 12-13 back in 2011-12, but hadn't done better than that since. 

Following missed shots on the opening possessions for both teams, Jannelle Robinson posted the first points of the game on a putback layup just over a minute into the action. 

After Immaculata tied it up at 2-2 on a layup of its own, Jordan Karmonick found Tamia Wessels for a fastbreak layup for the 4-2 Alvernia lead.

Wessels stayed hot, converting two more layups over the next minute for an early 8-2 Alvernia advantage after just under four minutes of play. 

Alvernia held a two possession advantage for the next four minutes, leading Immaculata 12-6 at the 2:41 mark of the first quarter. Following a made free throw by Wessels to put Alvernia up seven, a Theresa Kearney layup for Immaculata cut the game down to five, 13-8. Alvernia would drive the lead right back up, 15-8, following a Chenoa Bernhardt layup with 44 seconds to play. 

Jannelle Robinson bookended the half with a layup to close out the first quarter scoring and give Alvernia the 17-8 advantage going into the second quarter. 

The Mighty Macs began to slowly chip away at the Alvernia lead, starting with a layup by Kaitlyn Racobaldo to open the second quarter to make it a 17-10 game. A free throw by Kelly Fetter marked Alvernia's first points of the quarter to make it an eight point game, 18-10, but Immaculata responded with another layup to cut it down to two possessions, 18-12, with 8:25 to go in the half.

Immaculata then got within four following a jumper at the 7:18 mark, but Kayla Williams responded with a layup of her own to put Alvernia back up by six, 20-14.

Two field goals by Immaculata over the next minute brought the Mighty Macs within two, 20-18, with 4:55 left in the half.

Alvernia responded with two quick field goals of its own - one from Wessels and the other off the hands of Tyra Robinson - to go back up by six, 24-18, with 4:06 to play in the second quarter.

After the scoring slowed over the next three minutes, a step back three by Wessels put Alvernia back up by eight, 28-20, with 1:17 to play.

Alvernia was held scoreless over the final minute, but the Golden Wolves held Immaculata to just three made free throws as Alvernia took the 28-23 advantage into the break.

The Mighty Macs cut the game to three points, 28-25, with a layup to open the scoring in the third quarter.

Taliyah Malone answered with a 3-pointer at the 8:43 mark of the third. After a Karmonick block on Immaculata's next possession, Williams knocked down a layup to drive Alvernia's lead back up to eight, 33-25.

The Mighty Macs then hit field goals on three of their next four possessions while holding Alvernia scoreless for over two minutes. A jumper by Reese Mullins under contact made it a two point game, 33-31, with 5:31 on the clock. Mullins then made her and-one attempt to make it a one point game, 33-32.

Alvernia broke its scoreless drought with a Williams jumper, but Immaculata responded with a 3-pointer to tie it up at 35-35 with 4:18 on the third quarter block.

Alvernia was again held scoreless for another two minute block while Immaculata posted nine to take its largest lead of the game thus far, 44-35, with 2:03 left in the third.

Two made free throws by Kylie Bradford at the 1:46 mark brought Alvernia back within seven, 44-37, and a Tyra Robinson layup off a steal marked the final points of the quarter and brought Alvernia within five, 44-39, going into the fourth quarter.

The Mighty Macs opened the fourth quarter with a 3-pointer by Morgan Falcone, and a layup from Racobaldo on their next possession gave Immaculata a ten point advantage, 49-39, with 8:39 to play.

A 3-pointer from Malone off a Karmonick offense board with 7:42 to play sparked Alvernia's 18-7 run that would go on to clinch the game. 

Alvernia stayed hot from beyond the arc with Karmonick knocking down a three of her own to bring Alvernia within four, 49-45, on Alvernia's next possession. Fetter then brought Alvernia within two, 49-47, on a fastbreak layup with just over six minutes to play.

After an Alvernia foul at the 5:25 mark, Immaculata converted two free throws to end Alvernia's quick 8-0 run and put Immaculata up by four, 51-47, with 5:25 to play.

Wessels responded with a 3-pointer to bring Alvernia within one, 51-50, with 5:02 on the clock. After just under two minutes of scoreless action, Alvernia took the lead, 52-51, on a layup from Malone following a blocked shot by Bradford with 3:16 to play. 

A corner three by Karmonick pushed Alvernia's lead to four, 55-51, with 2:14 to play.

The Mighty Macs stayed in it, though, making a jumper at the 1:58 mark to make it a two point game 55-53. Following an Alvernia foul, Immaculata went 1-for-2 from the line to make it a one point game, 55-54, with 1:23 to play.

A layup from Williams on Alvernia's next possession put Alvernia up by three, 57-54, with 1:07 to play.

Immaculata got back within one, 57-56, with 46 seconds to play on a Theresa Kearney.

The Mighty Macs then forced an Alvernia turnover on the next possession, but Immaculata was called for a travel following the turnover to give the ball right back to Alvernia. 

Immaculata had one final look to tie it with three seconds to go, but Wessels and Williams swatted the attempt away to seal the game. Alvernia ran out the final three seconds for the 57-56 win. 

Wessels led Alvernia's offensive efforts with 15 points. The junior guard also added nine rebounds and three blocks. Jannelle Robinson was a defensive force for Alvernia with a career-high 16 rebounds - bettering her previous career best of 10 boards during her first year in 2019. She also added five blocks and six points. Karmonick dished out six assists and added six points and seven rebounds.

The Golden Wolves will look to add to their win total on Wednesday in a road matchup at Lebanon Valley. The Golden Wolves defeated the Dutchmen 66-58 in their first matchup of the season back on January 12.