BOX SCORE
Aston, Pa. (Jan. 30, 2012) – Alvernia University (9-10) posted its third-highest first half output of the year taking a 45-32 lead at the break and cruised to an 81-67 win over former PAC rival Neumann University (10-10) Monday evening in non-conference women's basketball action at the Mirenda Center.
Five different players reached double figures for the Crusaders led by 18 from senior Kelli McIntyre (Orwigsburg, Pa./Blue Mountain). Fellow senior Allie Toczylowski (Mantua, N.J./Clearview Regional) has been terrific over the last three games hitting double figures in each one and going over 1,000 for her career over the weekend. She totaled 17 points on an efficient 8-for-11 shooting and pulled down nine rebounds. Kate Yoh (Wernersville, Pa./Conrad Weiser) scored 12 points to go with eight rebounds, Angela Altemose (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity BVM) totaled 11 points and pulled within 33 points of 1,000, and Mya Lobb (Reading, Pa./Muhlenberg) added 10 points.
The Crusaders jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead with driving buckets from Toczylowski and Yoh, and scored 21 points in the first six minutes while holding the Knights to just nine. The lead grew to 13 points later in the half and hit its first-half peak on a layup from Altemose that put Alvernia up 45-30 just before the half.
The Crusaders shot 53 percent from the floor in the opening half and hit each of the three 3s they took. McIntyre was 2-for-2 and freshman Jamie Swaboski (Larksville, Pa./Wyoming Valley West) hit the other.
The two teams played basically even through the second half with the lead growing to as high as 18 points and never falling below 11.
Neumann had a pair of players reach double figures led by Sami Borcky with a game-high 20.
The Crusaders return to the conference schedule Wednesday with an evening trip to Arcadia.
Alvernia 81, Neumann 67