GLENSIDE, Pa. – The Arcadia University women's basketball team took a thrilling 79-77 win from Alvernia Wednesday night in Alumni Gymnasium. Seniors Addy Crenny and Valerie DiMuro led the way for Arcadia each posting a double-double with the former recording a career-high 28 points and 13 rebounds, while the latter posted 21 points and a game-high 16 rebounds. The win moves the Knights to 9-13 overall and 4-9 in conference play, Alvernia moves to 8-15 overall and 3-11 in conference play.
 
The Knights rallied from a 17-point deficit midway through the third quarter using a much improved defense from the first half combined with hot shooting to slowly chip away at the Crusader lead. Shooting just 32.3% from the floor in the second half, the visitors were unable to put together any sort of run over the final 20 minutes, while the hosts used a trio of six and seven point sequences to do most of its damage.
 
After Alvernia opened a 17 point lead for the third time at 60-43 at the 4:27 mark of the third quarter, DiMuro combined with classmate Morgan Wensley for a 9-2 run in which the latter capped off with a three to pull within 10 at 60-50 with just over three minutes left in the frame.
 
The Crusaders maintained a double-digit lead at 68-57 to open the decisive fourth quarter before Crenny, DiMuro fellow senior Dominique Hassinger and junior Imani Alston all scored as part of a 10-3 spurt that drew the Knights to within four with 6:19 left in regulation. With the deficit at five less than three minutes later, Crenny and DiMuro combined for six straight points vaulting the Scarlet and Grey to a 76-75 lead with just under two minutes to go.
 
Alvernia's Jenna Wolff converted a layup on the ensuing possession putting the Crusaders back up one, only to have Crenny put Arcadia ahead for good with a layup with 1:05 left in the contest.
 
DiMuro came up big late on the defensive end with a huge block on a Wolff layup attempt with 16 ticks left on the clock. After DiMuro collected the rebound, the ball went to Alston who was fouled on the play. With Alston converting one of two free throw attempts, the Knights led 79-77 with 14 seconds left. An offensive foul call on Alvernia's Logan Focht with 1.6 seconds to go all but sealed the win for Arcadia.
 
The Knights had once of their best offensive showings of the season as they shot 48.5% from the field for their highest scoring output of the campaign. Scoring in the paint played a major role in Arcadia's success as the Knights outscored Alvernia 38-14 down low and 15-8 in second chance points.
 
Arcadia's early hole came in large part to a 30-point first half from Alvernia as the Crusaders went 10 of 17 from the field, including 6 of 9 from beyond the arc in the opening frame.
 
Alvernia finished the game shooting 43.5% with four of its six players reaching double-figures. Chelsea Ebersole led the way with 23 points followed by Olivia Andrefski with 20; Wolff put up 16 and Focht.
 
The Knights hit the road on Saturday for a 1 p.m. tilt at Lebanon Valley.