Reading, Pa. (Feb. 22, 2023) - #3 Alvernia University (17-9) knocked off #2 Albright College (18-8) by a 68-52 decision in the MAC Commonwealth semifinal at Albright to send Alvernia to its first MAC Commonwealth Championship game appearance in program history. 

After an even first half that saw the game go into the break tied at 26-26, Alvernia faced an early third quarter deficit following two quick layups by the Lions. The Golden Wolves traded the lead before taking it for good with 3:45 to play in the third quarter. A 9-2 run to open the 4th quarter propelled Alvernia to a strong finish as the Golden Wolves downed the Lions.

Alvernia will now advance to the finals of the MAC Championship and take on top-seeded Messiah University. The Falcons routed #5 Widener University with a 66-39 win over the Pride in the other semifinal game earlier tonight. Tip-off of the championship is set for 3:00 PM at Messiah.

A layup from Cathryn Kramer opened the scoring for Alvernia against the Lions off of a nearly 39 second opening possession for the Golden Wolves. The two teams then traded baskets until a pair of made free throws by Jordan Karmonick and a three from Taliyah Malone gave Alvernia the 9-5 lead after three and a half minutes of action.

The Lions got back within three off an Amina Rauf layup, but Alvernia responded with Jennah DeGout hitting a corner three off the bench to give the Golden Wolves a six point lead, 12-6, with 6:05 to play in the opening frame.

After a scoreless two minutes on both sides, Rauf got the Lions back within three, 12-9. Alvernia immediately responded with another three from Malone, and a pair of made free throws on Alvernia's next possession by Tamia Wessels gave Alvernia an eight point advantage, 17-9, with 3:16 to play in the first. But, Alvernia was held scoreless the rest of the quarter as Albright put up four points to get back within four, 17-13, heading into the second quarter.

Malone continued to stay hot from beyond the arc as she opened the second quarter for Alvernia with a three off of an offensive board. The Lions responded with a layup from Julia Zakovitch to make it a five point game, 20-15, but Alvernia answered right back with a layup from Kramer. 

Back-to-back threes on Albright's next possessions quickly brought the Lions within one, 22-21, with 6:47 left to play in the half.

Both teams again went scoreless for another two minute span, but this time the Golden Wolves broke the drought with Kayla Williams hitting a layup with 4:44 to play in the half to give Alvernia the three point lead, 24-21.

Albright tied it up at 24-24 about a minute later as scoring slowed again for both sides. A layup from DeGout gave Alvernia back the lead, 26-24, but the Lions tied it right back up at 26 a piece on a Rauf layup with 1:14 to play in the half. Neither team scored in the final 1:14 as the 26-26 tie held going into the break.

The Lions opened the third quarter with back-to-back layups to give them their largest lead of the game at four points, 30-26.

Alvernia got two back on a Wessels layup and retook the lead on Malone's fourth 3-pointer of the night, 31-20, with 7:19 to play in the third frame. The Lions retook the lead on their next possession and the two teams traded the lead twice more over the next four minutes until a DeGout layup with 3:45 to play in the quarter gave Alvernia a 37-36 lead.  The Golden Wolves would not give up the lead or allow a tie the rest of the way.

A quick 7-0 burst from the Golden Wolves pushed Alvernia's lead to eight, 44-36, with 1:11 to play in the quarter. Malone contributed five for Alvernia during the quick run, and Wessels added the other two.

The Lions scored the final four points of the quarter as Alvernia took a 44-40 lead into the final frame. 

After the opening 90 seconds of the fourth quarter went scoreless, Alvernia extended its lead back to six, 46-40, on a pair of made free throws by Karmonick. Those free throws sparked a 9-2 run that propelled Alvernia the rest of the way and gave the Golden Wolves a 53-42 lead with 6:33 to play. Karmonick put up four during the run, Williams added a layup, and Wessels capped off the run with a 3-pointer.

The Lions ended the run with a 3-pointer from Lindsey Williamson, and crept back within seven, 55-48, on their following possession with a three from Crisanta Apistar.

A layup from Williams pushed Alvernia's lead right back up to nine on the next Alvernia possession, and back-to-back threes from Karmonick and Malone pushed it to a 15 point game, 63-48, with 3:12 to play. 

Following a layup from Wessels with 1:51 to play, the Lions sent the Golden Wolves to the line the rest of the way. Alvernia converted three of its four opportunities as the Golden Wolves came away with their first ever win in a MAC Commonwealth postseason in program history.

Malone led Alvernia with 21 points. The junior was 6-for-10 from beyond the arc, and also added a team-high five steals. Wessels finished with 12 points, and Karmonick added 11 with four assists. Williams finished with a ten point, ten rebound double-double for the Golden Wolves. The Golden Wolves held Albright's Gabby Boggs - who was averaging a double-double on the season, to just six points and six rebounds. 

Alvernia now has two days to prepare for the Falcons as the Golden Wolves head to Grantham on Saturday afternoon.