Late Run Gives Widener Opening Win

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Box Score
 
Chester, Pa. (Nov. 30, 2011) - Widener University (3-3, 1-0) ran off a 7-0 run in the final four minutes then held off a furious comeback from Alvernia University (3-2, 0-1) in a 61-58 win Wednesday evening in the Commonwealth Conference Women's Basketball opener for both teams at Widener.

The Pride were ahead most of the night and led by as many as nine points in the second half.  Alvernia took a 49-48 lead on a Chelsea Gieringer (Oley, Pa./Oley Valley) jumper with 7:16 left, and led by one again with under four minutes to go before the Widener 7-0 run--led by five from Lil Carney--put the Pride up 59-53 with 1:25 to play.

Alvernia answered with five straight from senior center Angela Altemose (Pottsville, Pa./Nativity BVM) over the next 60 seconds, but Carney knocked down a pair of free throws to push the lead back to 3 and Altemose was off the mark on a 3 on the Crusaders' final possession.

Altemose recorded team-highs with 19 points and 10 rebounds while Allie Toczylowski (Mantua, N.J./Clearview Regional) finished with 12 and eight.  Geiringer reachd double digits for the first time this season with 11 points.

Alvernia--which has made a living at the free throw line this season--went to the stripe 20 times, but knocked down just eight free throws.  Altemose entered the game having hit her first 22 free throws of the season.  The streak ended there when she missed her first attempt of the night, but she did finish 7-for-11 from the line.  The Crusaders hit 49 percent from the floor, but were 0-2 from the arc.  Widener shot just 29 percent from the floor, but did hit 21-of-26 free throws and went 6-19 from the arc.

The Crusaders return home to continue the conference schedule hosting Lycoming for a women's and men's doubleheader.

Widener 61, Alvernia 58