GETTYSBURG, Pa. – The Gettysburg College women's hoops team started 2013 on a high note with a 62-50 victory over Alvernia University in the opening game of the Days Inn Tournament inside Bream Gym.
With the victory, Gettysburg (5-4) advances to the finals of its own tournament for the fourth consecutive season. The Bullets will face Gwynedd-Mercy College (7-3), which held off Salisbury University (5-6) 70-66, in the title game on Thursday, Jan. 3, at 4 p.m.
Three Gettysburg players posted double-figures with junior Alyssa Isler (New Hope, Pa./New Hope-Solebury) leading the way with 13 points to go with eight rebounds. Freshman Jessica Porter (Narberth, Pa./Lower Merion) notched her second double-double of the year with 12 points and 10 rebounds and added a season-high four blocked shots, while junior Caroline Murphy (Chatham, N.J./Chatham) posted 10 points, nine boards, four assists, and three blocks.
Stevie Fortna led Alvernia (4-3) with 16 points and four steals.
Gettysburg held its sixth consecutive opponent below 30 percent shooting from the field as the Crusaders finished just 19-of-68 (27.9 percent) from the floor in the game. The visitors remained within striking distance thanks to seven made shots from beyond the arc. Gettysburg led by as many as nine in the opening period before Alvernia closed to 34-29 at the break.
The Crusaders cut the deficit to four at 43-39 following an old-fashioned three-point play by Fortna with 11:32 remaining in the contest. But Gettysburg refused to let the momentum swing as Porter converted a lay-up in transition on the very next possession. Sophomore Jenna Swope (Warminster, Pa./Archbishop Wood) came right back with a defensive stop, swiping the ball from Fortna and driving the length of the court for another lay-in. Isler added a three-pointer and freshman Emily Duggan (Marmora, N.J./Ocean City) cashed in a jumper to cap a 9-0 run and set the score at 52-39 with 6:48 to play.
Gettysburg never looked back, leading by as many as 15 down the final stretch.
The Bullets posted their second-best shooting performance of the season at 28-of-66 (42.4 percent) from the floor. The hosts out-rebounded the Crusaders 49-40 and held an 18-2 advantage in fast-break points.
Duggan and junior Rianna Doane (West Chester, Pa./Bayard Rustin) combined for 15 points and seven rebounds off the Gettysburg bench.
In the second game of the doubleheader, Gwynedd-Mercy established an early lead and never let go. The Griffins led by double-figures less than seven minutes into the contest and the advantage stood at 22-10 with 8:48 left in the opening half.
The Sea Gulls came charging back with a 12-0 run as Anna Hackett tallied three buckets, including a game-tying lay-up with 3:55 before the break. The tie was short-lived as Gwynedd-Mercy scored on a putback on its next possession and finished the half on a 12-2 run to lead 34-24.
The Griffins led by as many as 13 in the final period before Salisbury mounted another charge. Julia McLaughlin fueled a 13-2 run with a three-point play and Hackett closed the deficit to three (65-62) with a lay-up with 1:01 on the board.
Following a timeout, Gwynedd-Mercy put a halt to the surge as Natasha Matthews got behind the full-court press and converted a lay-in with 58 ticks left. Salisbury managed just a pair of free throws before a last-second lay-up by Aleisha Hobbs over the final time.
Shea Wassel turned in a monster game for Gwynedd-Mercy, putting up 20 points, 19 rebounds, five assists, two blocks, and three steals. Nicole Dougherty added 15 points and six assists and Lauren Smith chalked up 13 points and four steals.
Hobbs led Salisbury with 14 points and 13 rebounds. Maggie King posted a dozen points, while Hackett finished with 12 points, seven assists, and three steals.