BOX SCORE

Reading, Pa. (Feb. 15, 2011) – Alvernia University (13-11, 6-7) struggled to put the ball in the basket all night while Albright College (8-15, 4-9) pieced together some nice runs for a 69-49 upset win Tuesday evening in Commonweatlh Conference women's basketball action at the Physical Education Center.

"I have no explanation why we played so poorly today," said Alvernia head coach Kevin Calabrira. "We didn't have the energy. We have a couple injuries, but that's no excuse, everyone has injuries. Senior night for Lil Snyder, packed house, Albright, we should have been ready."

The Crusaders were playing for their playoff lives with a chance to seal up the fourth and final seed. After Tuesday's results they still find themselves with a one-game lead over Elizabethtown for the fourth spot, but Alvernia travels to top-seeded Lebanon Valley for the regular season finale while Etown travels to Arcadia University, currently last in the standings.

"For some reason we looked like the team with seven wins," admitted Calabria still seeking answers. "They looked like the team fighting for a playoff spot."

Should Etown win and Alvernia lose on Saturday – the only scenario that could possibly keep Alvernia out of the playoffs – the fourth spot would come down to a tiebreaker.

Etown would get the spot if Albright finishes ahead of Lycoming in the final standings, Alvernia gets the spot if Lyco finishes above Albright. Albright and Lycoming are tied with one game to go, if they finish that way the playoff spot comes down to point differential between Alvernia and Etown, a decision that leans toward the Crusaders.

Alvernia faced a 13-point deficit at halftime on Tuesday and was only that close one other time, with 2:31 to play. Albright shot better than 50 percent in the first half and finished 25-of-57 (44 percent). Alvernia shot just 20 percent in the first half and finished 15-of-63 (24 percent), easily its worst night of the season.

After three ties in the first four minutes Albright took control of the first half with an 11-4 run that turned a 9-all tie into a 20-13 lead for the guests. Senior Jess McGinness, who totaled 15 points in the first half led the run with seven points.

Alvernia trimmed the seven-point deficit down to three with a run of four straight. Albright answered that to reestablish the seven-point lead with 8:11 left in the first half and then the scoring stopped.

The next three minutes and change featured a combined nine missed shots and three turnovers. Alvernia hit just 7-of-35 shots from the floor over the opening 20 minutes while Albright canned 15-of-28.

Alvernia freshman Alisa Grecco (Long Valley, N.J./West Morris Central) ended the drought with a free throw, but Albright scored seven of the next eight points to establish a 12-point lead 31-19 with 2:28 left in the half. The lead hit 13, its largest of the half, on a free throw from Kari Ludy with no time left on the clock.

Alvernia pounded the offensive glass for 15 rebounds in the first half and turned them into 13 second half points.

Alvernia finished the night with 22 offensive boards and 22 defensive. Junior Allie Toczylowski (Mantua, N.J./Clearview Regional) led the Crusaders with 12 points and 14 rebounds. Angela Altemose (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity BVM) finished with 12 and 12. McGinness led four players in double figures for the Lions with 24 points.

Game time Saturday at Lebanon Valley is 1:00 p.m.

Albright 69, Alvernia 49