Alvernia senior Lauren Fortna (Lebanon, PA/Lebanon) dropped in back-to-back buckets midway through the second half to pull the Crusaders (5-4) within a point, 35-34, but Susquehanna (9-3) scored 20 of the final 27 points to pull away for the win. Sophomore forward Allee Barnes (Blooming Glen, PA/Pennridge) led Alvernia with 14 points and was named to the All Tournament Team.
The Crusaders scored the first six points of the game, but Susquehanna answered with six for the first tie of the day. Susquehanna built its first half lead to as many as five points, 18-13, but Alvernia came back to knot the score at 23-all with 3:10 left in the half. Susquehanna junior Ruth Williamson (Gettysburg, PA/DuBois Central Catholic) scored on a jumper for the final score of the first half sending Susquehanna to the break with a 25-23 lead.
SU quickly pushed the lead to six early in the second half, but Alvernia scored seven straight for a 30-29 lead with 16:33 left to play. Susquehanna scored the next six for a five point lead preceding Fortna’s back-to-back buckets.
Alvernia will return to the conference schedule at Cedar Crest on Saturday.
Susquehanna 55, Alvernia 41
All Tournament Team
Breanne Dempken (TCNJ)
Courtney Fields (Gettysburg)
Allee Barnes (Alvernia)
Jen Clark (Susquehanna)
Most Valuable Player - Nikki Smith (Susquehanna)