OWINGS MILLS, Md. – Stevenson women's basketball (4-13, 0-6)  returned home to take on the Alvernia University Golden Wolves (10-7, 2-4) on Saturday afternoon and ended short, 68-40.
 
Getting on the board first, Mustangs sophomore guard Erin Dixon sank two withing five seconds in the first quarter. Creating the lone tie, junior forward Stephenae Lawrence answered a shot from the Golden Wolves, bringing the game to 3-3. The battle continued as the Mustangs allowed the Golden Wolves five more before a jumper from Dixon. Despite the pace challenging SU, first-year guard Amoni Taylor found an end-of -quarter buzzer beater, and the first quarter ended 14-7.
 
Securing an early opportunity in the half, Dixon added two more points at 7:18 and brought the team to 10 off a free throw. A minute later, sophomore forward Destiny Towns made a jumper, tightening the early game gap created by the Golden Wolves. First-year guard Elia Richardson made a jumper at 5:11 remaining. Despite the efforts, the Golden Wolves persisted, going into the half 32-14.
 
As the visitors surpassed 40 points, Mustang sophomore forward Aliyah Jean-Jacques brought the Mustangs past 15 with a jumper at 7:05 in the third quarter. She found another two points and a free throw just 11 seconds later. While the Golden Wolves tallied the points off a three pointer, first-year guard Korai Bowen answered at 4:47. Sophomore forwards Sanaa Thorne and Kalea Wynter brought the team to 25 as the third quarter wound down. In the final minute, Thorne and first-year forward Janie Smith brought in four points, but the home team still trailed 50-29 by the end of the third.
 
Four minutes into the final quarter, the Mustangs surpassed 30 with a layup from Lawrence. Jean-Jacques found a layup on a fast break just under halfway into the quarter. Pushing to 40, Taylor sank a three at 3:51. While the Golden Wolves added a few more off free throws, both Smith and Taylor pushed to 40, but the game ended with SU short, 68-40.
 
Jean-Jacques, Dixon, and Taylor each tied for seven points, while Dixon, Wynter, and Towns each added five rebounds. Towns also shone on steals with three total.
 
The Mustangs remain at home as they take on conference opponent Messiah University on Wednesday, Jan. 24 at 7 p.m.