Reading, Pa. (Feb. 24, 2026) - Alvernia Men's and Women's Basketball are set for MAC Commonwealth postseason action on Wednesday night as both teams hit the road for semifinal match-ups.

Women's Basketball, who earned the #3 seed, will head to #2 Widener University for the MAC Commonwealth Women's Basketball semifinal. Men's Basketball is in as the #4 seed and will head down to the top-seeded Blazers of Hood College. 

Women's Basketball vs. #2 Widener

Inside the Series
Since 2016, the Pride are 17-3 against Alvernia. This season, Alvernia picked up its first win over Widener since 2022 with a 69-59 win over the Pride at home in the first meeting of the season. Widener then returned the favor with a 70-46 win over Alvernia in Chester just ten days ago back on February 14. Alvernia's win over 2017 came in overtime at Widener University. It marked just the second time Alvernia won on the campus of Widener since 1992. The Golden Wolves will look to pick up their third win in Chester on Wednesday night. 

In Alvernia's win over Widener earlier this season the Golden Wolves erupted for a 51 point second half, erasing a seven point halftime deficit. Taryn Woodson posted a 16 point, 13 double-double to lead Alvernia to the win. Jennah DeGout came off the bench with a 15 point performance and finished just shy of the double-double with nine rebounds. In the loss at Widener, DeGout finished with a team-high 11 boards and Meghan Ruth led Alvernia with nine points. The Golden Wolves were plagued by turnovers in the loss to the Pride ten days ago. Alvernia committed 28 turnovers, and Widener took advantage with 33 points off of those turnovers. 

Alvernia's Season So Far (Conference Rank: #3, NPI Rank: #187)
Alvernia finished the regular season with a 13-12 overall record and went 8-6 in MAC Commonwealth play. Alvernia has gone back and forth in MAC Commonwealth play all season. The Golden Wolves won their first two conference matchups - including the  69-59 win over Widener to open MAC Commonwealth play - before dropping its next two conference games. The Golden Wolves strung together four straight wins to close out January and open February in the second rotation of conference play. That four game win streak came to an end with a 70-46 loss at Widener. Alvernia closed out the season with a 50-47 win over Eastern and a 53-44 loss to Messiah.

The Golden Wolves average 56 points per game and hold opponents to an average of 58.1 points per game. Alvernia ranks third in the MAC Commonwealth in points allowed per game. This season, Alvernia is shooting 35.7% overall and 23.6% from three point range. The Golden Wolves hold their opponents to a league best 34.4% overall field goal percentage. Opponents shoot 24.6% from deep against Alvernia. Alvernia leads the MAC in total rebounds per game with 44.7 and in defensive rebounds per game with 30. Alvernia is third in the MAC in offensive rebounds with 14.7 per game.

Golden Wolves to Watch
Jennah DeGout leads Alvernia with 10.3 points per game and 8.2 rebounds per game, and has had most of her productivity this season off the bench. She averages 17.5 minutes per game and is shooting just under 50% on the year.

Taryn Woodson has started in 24 of Alvernia's 25 games. She averages 22.2 minutes per game and is averaging 9.8 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game. She has both 34 steals and 34 blocks on the year. 

Samantha Wade has played in all 25 games her first year, and has come into a starting role in the final stretch of the season. Wade is averaging 4.5 points per game on the season, but has upped her production to 9.7 points per game in the month of February. She has paired that with an average of 6.5 rebounds per game in February. This month, she is shooting 41% from 3-point range and 33% overall. 

Widener's Season So Far (Conference Rank: #2, NPI Rank: #69)
Widener finished the regular season with an overall record of 20-5 and went 11-3 in MAC Commonwealth play. After dropping its first two MAC Commonwealth contests - including a loss to Alvernia - the Pride won 11 of the remaining 12 MAC Commonwealth matchups. The Pride are riding a four game win streak to close out the regular season. Two of Widener's three losses came against Messiah, who earned the #1 seed in the MAC Commonwealth tournament.

Widener leads the MAC Commonwealth in points per game with 71.1 and a 12.4 point average margin of victory. The Pride hold opponents to an average of 58.7 points per game. Opponents average 22.3 turnovers per game against the Pride, which is a MAC Commonwealth high and ranks the Pride 35th in the nation. Widener is second in the MAC Commonwealth with a 40.8% field goal percentage and the Pride hold opponents to a 36.3% field goal percentage. 

Pride to Watch
Lindsay Kutz has stepped up for the Pride after Widener lost 2025 All-Region selection Mia Robbins to a season-ending injury prior to conference play. Kutz is averaging a team-high 13.5 points per game and 7.9 rebounds per game. Kutz is averaging 32.5 minutes per game and shoots 34% from deep. She also has 55 steals and leads the Pride with 79 assists. 

Avalynn Baer is averaging 10.6 points and 6.1 rebounds per game for the Pride. She had a season-high 23 points against Alvernia in Widener's win over the Golden Wolves after posting just seven points on 2-for-12 shooting in Widener's loss to Alvernia earlier in the season. 

Riley Stackhouse joins Baer and Kutz as double-digit average scorers with 11.9 points per game. She is shooting 40% overall and 23.3% from beyond the arc. 

Game Information:
Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors (65+), and $5 for youth (ages 7-17). MAC students with a valid ID and children six and under accompanied by an adult receive free admission.  

Tip-off is set for 6:00 PM and live options are available at auwolves.com/live. 

Men's Basketball vs. #1 Hood

Inside the Series
Alvernia is 10-16 all-time against the Blazers and Hood is riding a ten-game win streak over Alvernia dating back to 2020. Alvernia is 5-8 all-time in Frederick and its last win against Hood came down in Maryland with a 90-85 win over the Blazers in February of 2020. Wednesday will mark the first time the two programs meet in the postseson.

Hood swept Alvernia in the regular season. The Blazers started the season series with a 104-94 win at home against Alvernia in January. Alvernia nearly upset the Blazers, who were ranked #12 at the time, in the second meeting of the season at Alvernia two weeks ago. But, Hood knocked down a go-ahead jumper with eight seconds to play to secure the 81-80 win.

Rasheem Dearry led Alvernia with an average of 23 points across both meetings. He shot 18-for-37 between both games, and went 12-for-19 in the second matchup for 32 points to help Alvernia nearly complete the upset.

Alvernia's Season So Far (Conference Rank: #4, NPI Rank: #155)
Alvernia finished the regular season with a 14-10 overall ranking and an 8-6 ranking in MAC Commonwealth play. The Golden Wolves, who were the preseason favorite to win the conference, opened MAC Commonwealth play with back-to-back wins. After a back and forth middle stretch of conference play, Alvernia closed out the regular season with three straight wins to lock up the final spot in the playoff field. It is the fifth straight year Alvernia has earned a postseason berth.

Alvernia is second in the MAC Commonwealth with an average of 82.1 points per game. The only team the Golden Wolves trail in the MAC Commonwealth is Hood, who averaged 94.9 points per game. Alvernia's defense allows 79.1 points per game. The Golden Wolves are second in the conference with a 47% shooting percentage and fourth in the conference with a 33.2% 3-point percentage. Alvernia ranks second to last in the conference in total rebounds per game with 36.9, but is fourth in the conference with 28.5 defensive boards per game. 

Golden Wolves to Watch
Robert Cottrell has started in 19 games and played in 20 this season. The reigning MAC Commonwealth Rookie of the Year is averaging 17.7 points per game and 3.9 rebounds per game. He is shooting 45.3$ on the year and 41% from deep with 36 made 3-pointers. He has a team-high 711 assists and is second on the team with 33 steals.

Elijah Hamilton is averaging 17.5 points per game and 7.5 rebounds per game in 23 games played and started. Hamilton has six double-doubles on the year and has reached double-digit scoring in Alvernia's last seven games - including a 35 point performance against Messiah to close out the regular season. He scored 21 points at Hood in the first meeting and posted 15 in the second meeting.

Rasheem Dearry has started 23 games and played in 24 for Alvernia, averaging 33.5 minutes per game. Dearry is averaging 15.8 points per game and 4.8 rebounds per game. He is shooting 44.5% on the year and leads Alvernia with 49 made 3-pointers. Dearry had a season-high 32 points against Hood in its last meeting with Alvernia.

Hood's Season So Far (Conference Rank: #1, NPI Rank: #16)
The Blazers are 23-3 overall and 13-1 in MAC Commonwealth play this season. Both records are program bests for the Blazers. Hood's only MAC Commonwealth loss came to Albright in a 104-98 setback on February 14th. It marked Hood's only loss at home this season, and its first loss since December 2nd when Johns Hopkins defeated the Blazers in a non-conference matchup. 

The Blazers are a high-powered offense, ranking fourth in the nation with an average of 94.9 points scored per game. They have scored 100 points or more in 12 of their games, including the final two games of the regular season. They posted a season-high 114 points against Albright to open MAC Commonwealth play. They average 11.8 3-pointers per game, which ranks them fifth in the nation. The Blazers are shooting 48.9% on the year overall and 36.9% from beyond the arc. They also average 43.2 rebounds per game and outrebound their opponents by 8.1 rebounds per game. The Blazers allow 80.6 points per game and hold opponents to 42.3% shooting.

Blazers to Watch
Jevon Yarbrough leads Hood's high-powered offense. The junior is averaging 24.6 points per game and is shooting 54% from the field on the year. He has a total of 615 points this season in 25 games played. Yarbrough is also top-ten in the nation in assists with 150. He leads the Blazers with 46 steals.

Jude Huseby leads Hood's rebound efforts with 201 on the year and eight per game. He also averages 12 points per game and has 60 assists and 32 steals. He is shooting 51.9% overall and 33.3% from the field.

Kullen Robinson is second on the Blazers with 16.8 points per game and leads the Blazers with a 54.2% field goal percentage. He has 419 points on the year and 140 rebounds. Robinson also has 53 assists and 18 steals on the season.

Game Information:
Ticket prices are $10 for adults, $5 for seniors (65+), and $5 for youth (ages 7-17). MAC students with a valid ID and children six and under accompanied by an adult receive free admission.  

Tip-off is set for 7:00 PM and live options are available at auwolves.com/live.