Grantham, Pa. (Feb. 25, 2023) - #3 Alvernia University (17-10) fell to #1 Messiah University (25-2), 60-37, in the MAC Commonwealth Women's Basketball Championship on Saturday afternoon at Messiah.

The Golden Wolves held it close through the first five and a half minutes, but Alvernia was plagued by a ten-minute scoring drought that spanned midway through the first quarter through the midpoint of the second frame. The Falcons used that scoreless drought to take a 31-15 lead on Alvernia into the half. Messiah then kept its foot on the gas the rest of the way as the Falcons took the championship with the 60-37 final. 

Alvernia and the Falcons kept it close early on. After the Falcons scored the opening basket, Alvernia evened it up at 2-2 on a Cathryn Kramer layup. Alvernia continued to go point-for-point with Messiah through the opening five minutes. A driving layup and step back three by Jennah DeGout evened the game up at 11-11 with 4:36 to play in the first quarter.

But, Alvernia then went scoreless for the next 10:11 of game time. DeGout ended the scoreless drought with 4:25 to play in the second quarter with a jumper, but Alvernia trailed the Falcons 24-13. Alvernia was held to just one field goal the rest of the quarter - a jumper from Jordyn Ingelido - as Alvernia trailed the Falcons 31-15 at the half.

Messiah struggled to get its scoring going in the second half, but Alvernia could not take advantage as the Golden Wolves struggled to get going as well. Messiah drove its lead up 22 as the third quarter came to a close with a 3-pointer to make it a 45-23 game going into the final ten minutes.

Messiah continued to pressure going into the fourth quarter and led by as much as 27 points with 7:33 to play. Alvernia never got closer than 19 the rest of the way as the Golden Wolves fell 60-37. 

DeGout led Alvernia with 17 points. Tamia Wessels also finished with double digits, grabbing ten points.

The loss marks the end of Alvernia's historic run in conference play. Today's appearance marked Alvernia's first appearance in a MAC Commonwealth title game. 

Alvernia will await an ECAC bid.