Improved shooting leads to near upset of Alvernia

GLENSIDE, PA: (Jan. 12, 2011) - Arcadia University, tied for 7th out of 8 in the Commonwealth Conference women's basketball standings, hosted #4 Alvernia University Wednesday evening, and made it a game with a strong second half performance, outscoring the Crusaders 35-32, but Alvernia's 10 point halftime lead after a strong first half, proved to be the difference. Another difference maker was free throw shooting down the stretch, where the Crusaders went 4-4 while the Knights made just 2 out of 6 of their chances in the final five minutes of play with Alvernia pulling out a 67-60 victory. With the win, Alvernia (8-5) moves to 3-1 in the league leaving the Knights (5-8) at 0-4.

Corrine Geiger '11 called for the ball all evening for the Knights and delivered one of the finest performances
of her career, scoring 13 points, a team high, 9 coming in the first half to go along with 6 rebounds and 3 assists. Both Geiger and Angie Adams '13, who finished with 11 points, shot 50% from the field, which reflected in the Knights' much improved shooting percentage over the past fews outings, out-shooting the 'Vern 41.1% - 36.2%. Despite a fiesty effort by Jackie Law '13 on the glass, finishing with a team high 12 rebounds, the Crusaders swarmed the boards all evening ending with a sizeable 47-34 margin in rebounds. Both teams struggled from three point range, Alvernia just 2-10 and the Knights 3-14.

Alvernia led the entire way, with their largest spread at the 9:58 mark of the first half, up 20-7. Geiger would cap a three point play on a drive to the glass at 7:46 to cut the 'Vern's lead to 7 (23-16), part of a 9-3 run for Arcadia. While the Crusaders would push it back to 12 at 6:43 (28-16), a heads up play from Law on a steal at center court led to a score on the fast break from Adams with 1:42 remaining in the half to bring the Knights within 5 (30-25). But Alvernia's Katelyn Gill sank a three and Melissa Gianotti hit a pair of free throws to give the Crusaders a ten point lead at the half, 35-25.

Some back and forth scoring opened the second, with the 'Vern still up ten (41-31) with 16:16 to go. And then the Knights, sensing urgency, picked up the pace while the Crusaders tried to slow down their offense. Christine Taylor '12 was left open for the three pointer from the left side, cutting Alvernia's lead to 5 at 14:14, and later in the game, with the Knights still giving chase, another Law steal, this time an outlet pass to Christie Kershaw '14 at 8:35 would cut the Knights deficit to 4, 49-45. The Knights would find themselves within one possession of tying the game on three occassions in the final 2:31, using a short jump shot from Adams at 2:31, two free throws from Krista Hsu '14 at 1:05, and then Taylor's second three pointer with 10 seconds to go but still the Crusaders were in front on the scoreboard, 63-60. Arcadia was forced to foul to preserve every tick for a final chance to send the game into overtime, but Alvernia made good on all four of their free chances and escaped with the seven point 67-60 victory, led by three players scoring in double figures. Angela Altemose and Julie Hahn each scored 14 while Allie Toczylowski scored 11 and grabbed a game high 15 rebounds.

Along with her 11 points, Adams added 4 assists, 2 rebounds and 4 steals to aid a balanced Arcadia effort. Law added 9 points, 6 assists a block and 3 steals to her 12 boards while Kershaw finished with 11 points, 5 rebounds, a block and a steal. Taylor chipped in with 8 points, 6 coming off treys and Hsu contributed 6.

Up next for Arcadia will be Lycoming College, this Saturday at home at 1 PM.

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