Reading, Pa. (January 10) – In a hard-fought MAC Commonwealth road contest, the Stevenson women's basketball team delivered a competitive four-quarter performance but came up just short in a 56–52 decision against Alvernia on Saturday afternoon.
The Golden Wolves opened the scoring early, but Stevenson quickly settled in behind aggressive play on both ends of the floor.
Nadia Ferguson got the Mustangs on the board with a strong finish in the paint, while
Aliyah Jean-Jacques followed with a layup to keep Stevenson ahead midway through the first quarter. Alvernia used a brief run late in the period to gain separation, sending Stevenson into the second quarter trailing by one.
Stevenson responded in the second quarter with improved defensive pressure, forcing turnovers and converting on the offensive end.
Anaya Price sparked the Mustangs with a pair of free throws before Ella Richardson knocked down a three-pointer to cut into the deficit.
Isabella Serano battled inside and added a basket on the fast break as Stevenson closed the half on a surge, heading into the locker room with a 30–23 advantage.
The Mustangs came out of halftime with momentum, as Ferguson opened the third quarter with a basket to push Stevenson's lead to 10. Despite the sustained pressure, Alvernia worked through the Mustang defense and closed the gap, cutting the score to 41–38 heading into the final 10 minutes.
Stevenson made one last push in the fourth quarter to stay in front, as Price converted from the free-throw line and added a key jumper to keep the Mustangs ahead in the final seven minutes of action. Stevenson continued to battle defensively, but Alvernia tied the game at 46–46 after a pair of free throws and eventually pulled ahead behind efficient shooting. Despite late efforts to regain the lead, Stevenson was halted by late-game fouls and the clock, resulting in a 56–52 loss.
Stevenson will look to bounce back in its next contest as the Mustangs remain on the road, traveling to Hood College on Wednesday, January 14, for a 7:00 p.m. MAC Commonwealth match up.
