On January 18 Neumann College (12-3, 6-0) handed Alvernia College (8-6, 6-1) their first Pennsylvania Athletic Conference loss of the season, 64-61, at the Bruder Gymnasium in Aston, Pennsylvania.
After tip-off the Knights scored fast and took the lead 2-0 in the opening minutes of the half. After the quick score from Neumann, Alvernia took the lead after scoring their first bucket, followed by a foul shot, making the score 3-2. From then on the half was a battle between both undefeated conference teams.
Neumann showed good ball movement throughout the half, but had a hard time making the shots they needed to take a comfortable lead. Kim Hinkle still held it down on defense causing multiple turnovers as she positioned herself all over the court. However, that wasn’t enough to stop Alvernia from taking a 32-28 lead at halftime.
In the beginning of the second half the Crusaders took advantage of the Knights costly fouls improving their lead not without a fight from the Knights. The Knights couldn’t piece anything together in the opening 7:00 of the second half.
The momentum changed with 10:50 on the clock when Kim Hinkle drained a big 3-pointer to cut Alvernia’s lead to four making the score 48-44. The Crusaders answered quickly with two, but the Knights’ Kim Hinkle answered back making a basket, forcing a foul and making the ensuing foul shot to close the gap 48-47 Alvernia.
Neumann showed heart throughout the game, and stepped up when we they needed in most, in the final 10:00 of the second half. With the game going back and fourth in the final moments of the game, the Knights showed good team chemistry with a “whatever it takes” attitude.
Brittany Whetts’ (15 points, 10 rebounds) double-double for the Knights and great play from Kim Hinkle (12 points, 4 assists), Caitlin Agnew (12 points) and Dorothy Rozier (13 rebounds) helped Neumann break Alvernia’s 6-game conference unbeaten streak in a nail biter with the final score 64-61.
The Knights next game will be a Pennsylvania Athletic Conference match up against Cabrini College on January 20 at 1:00 at Cabrini College.