Reading, Pa. (Nov. 19, 2024) - Alvernia University (2-2) took the lead over William Paterson (2-2) with 7:17 to play and held off the Pioneers from there as the Golden Wolves took the 62-61 win on Tuesday night in non-conference women's basketball action at Alvernia. 

In a game that saw 13 lead changes and nine ties, Alvernia held onto the lead for the entirety of the final seven minutes after Aaliyah Ferrer hit a go-ahead three. The Golden Wolves then held off the Pioneers from taking the lead back on late opportunities in the final minute as Alvernia picked up its second win of the season.

How it Happened

• William and Paterson got off to a quick start and jumped out to an 11-2 lead. Alvernia called an early timeout to regroup and scored a quick four points off of layups from Jenna DeGout and Olivia Burke to get back within five, 11-6, as the opening quarter hit its midpoint.
• The Pioneers pushed the lead back to nine, 15-6, with 3:03 to play in the quarter, but a Burke 3-pointer and back-to-back layups from Paige O'Brien brought Alvernia back within two, 15-13, with 40 seconds to play in the quarter. The Golden Wolves then took the lead, 16-15, with 16 seconds to play on a Lilliana Knudsen 3-pointer, but the Pioneers hit a last second jumper to take a 17-16 lead into the second quarter.
• Alvernia scored the opening points of the second frame on a layup from Burke to retake the lead, 18-17, and made it a 20-17 game on a layup from Kylie Bradford just over a minute into the quarter.
• The Pioneers evened it back up at 20-20 on a 3-pointer on their next possession, and the two-teams went back-and-forth from there for the majority of the remainder of the half.
• William and Paterson took a 30-28 lead with 1:13 to play in the quarter, and the Pioneers were poised to take the two point lead into the break. But, Kyla Reed came in off the bench as a late substitution and hit a 3-pointer on the ensuing possession with five seconds on the clock to give Alvernia the 31-30 lead going into the break. Burke led Alvernia with eight points through the first half, and both Burke and DeGout had a team-high four rebounds going into the break. 
• The Golden Wolves and Pioneers traded layups to open the half, but William and Paterson pushed its lead back to six, 39-33, with 7:44 to play. The game stayed at a two-possession deficit for Alvernia for the next two minutes until Alvernia got it back within two on an O'Brien 3-pointer. The Golden Wolves then evened it up at 43-43 on a DeGout layup with 4:41 to play and took the lead, 45-43, on a Jordyn Ingelio layup on the next Alvernia possession.
• Alvernia was held without a field goal in the final four minutes of the quarter, but the Pioneers couldn't take advantage and took just a one-point lead, 49-48, going into the fourth quarter.
• A DeGout layup opened the fourth quarter scoring and gave Alvernia back the lead, 50-49, but Paterson tied it at 50-50 on a made free throw on its next possession. A 3-point play from DeGout made it a 53-50 game with just under nine minutes to play, but the Golden Wolves and Pioneers traded the lead again.
• The Pioneers hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with 7:49 to play, but Aaliyah Ferrar matched it with a 3-pointer of her own to give Alvernia the 56-50 lead with 7:17 to play. The Golden Wolves did not let go of the lead again.
• A pair of made free throws from Bradford gave Alvernia the three point lead, 58-5, with just under seven minutes to play, and an Ingelido layup made it a five point game, 60-55, with 5:51 to play.
• The Pioneers went scoreless for over three minutes, but Alvernia could not pull away as William Paterson hit a layup to end the scoreless drought and got within one point with one minute to play. 
• The Pioneers had opportunities in the final minute after Alvernia turned the ball over twice, but William Paterson missed two late layup opportunities as Alvernia came away with the 62-61 win.

Inside the Box Score

• Olivia Burke recorded her third straight double-double with 12 points and ten rebounds
• Jenna DeGout led Alvernia's scoring efforts with 18 points. She also brought down eight boards.
• Ryleigh Poole had a team-high six assists
• Alvernia had 22 points from its bench compared to the six points scored by William Paterson's bench. 

Up Next

• Alvernia plays at the Franklin and Marshall Terry Green Tip-Off Tournament on Friday and Saturday. Alvernia will play Delaware Valley on Friday and either Lancaster Bible or the host Diplomats on Saturday.