Erie, Pa. (March 1, 2023) - #5 Alvernia University (18-10) used a 27 point third quarter to propel itself to an 80-67 win over #4 Penn State Behrend (21-7) and secure a spot in the ECAC semifinal as the Golden Wolves defeated the Lions 80-67 on Wednesday afternoon. 

Alvernia jumped out to a 7-0 lead following an opening-possession 3-pointer from Kayla Williams and jumpers from Jordan Karmonick and Cathryn Kramer. The Lions got two back on a Morgan Altavilla jumper, but Alvernia kept it a seven point game after two minutes of action on a Kramer jumper.

Alvernia extended it to a nine point lead with 5:47 to play on another 3-pointer from Williams, but the Lions matched it with a 3-pointer of its own to make it a six point game, 14-8, with 5:25 to play in the first. That 3-pointer marked the start of a quick 8-0 run by the Lions over the next two minutes as Penn State got within two, 14-12, with 3:48 to play in the first.

A 3-pointer from Taliyah Malone followed by layups from Tamia Wessels and Jennah DeGout allowed Alvernia to build its lead back up to nine, 21-12, with 2:23 to play. But, Alvernia was held scoreless the rest of the quarter as the Lions got within one, 21-18, going into the second quarter. 

The Lions got within one, 21-20, on an opening possession jumper, but Alvernia held off a lead change over the next two minutes. Layups from Karmonick and Kramer pushed Alvernia's lead back to six, 26-20, after two minutes of second quarter action. 

Alvernia lead stayed at seven or more for the next seven minutes. A jumper from Malone gave Alvernia a nine point lead, 36-27, with 2:16 to play in the second. The Lions got within five, 38-33 to close out the quarter as Altavilla hit the final jumper of the half to make it a 38-33 game going into the second half. 

A 3-pointer and pair of made free throws from the Lions evened the game up at 38-38 after the opening minute of the third quarter. Back-to-back 3-pointers from Malone and Karmonick gave Alvernia back the lead, 44-38. A jumper from Altavilla got the Lions back within four, but Williams knocked down back-to-back layups to make it an eight point game, 48-40, with 7:14 to play in the third.

The Golden Wolves continued to push the Lions, and Karmonick three and Wessels layup gave Alvernia a 12 point lead, 54-42, with 4:12 to play in the third. Alvernia kept a double-digit lead for the remainder of the quarter, and a 3-pointer from Karmonick gave Alvernia its largest lead to that point, 61-47, with 1:32 to play in the quarter. The Lions got a couple back, but a Malone jumper with 33 seconds to play in the third frame made it a 65-52 game heading into the fourth quarter. 

The Lions opened the fourth quarter with a layup and 3-pointer to get within nine, 66-57, but a Jenna DeGout layup pushed the game back to double-digits, 68-57, with eight minutes to play. Alvernia rolled the rest of the quarter, as a 3-pointer from Malone gave Alvernia the 15 point advantage, 76-61, with 3:27 to play.

The Lions went scoreless for three minutes as Alvernia pushed it to a 16 point, 77-61, on a Karmonick free throw. A 3-pointer from Wessels marked Alvernia's final points of the game as the Golden Wolves took the 80-67 win.

Four of Alvernia's starters reached double-digit scoring. Malone led the way with 16 points, shooting 4-for-9 from beyond the arc. Wessels and Karmonick finished with 15 points each. Karmonick and DeGout finished with a team-high eight rebounds. Williams finished with 14 points, a team-high four assist, and seven boards.

Alvernia is back in action on Saturday at #1 Ramapo for the ECAC Semifinals.