READING, Pa. (Jan. 22, 2016) – Senior Ally Ferrucci (Vineland, N.J.) drove in for a game-winning layup with four seconds left to lift the Widener University women's basketball team to a thrilling 70-69 triumph over Alvernia on Friday evening at Jack McMluskey Court. Head coach Alisa Kintner, who is in her 13th season as the pilot of the program, picked up her 200th career victory.
 
After trailing throughout the first three quarters, Widener took its first lead in the game when sophomore Allison Gallagher (Souderton, Pa.) made a 3-point field goal from the corner that was set up by Ferrucci with 9:38 remaining in regulation. Senior Nikki Sutliff (Sweet Valley, Pa.) then canned a trey, and Ferrucci followed with a layup to keep the Pride ahead at 61-56 and prompt a Crusader timeout with 6:51 left.
 
But after Widener extended its lead to six, Alvernia stormed back and regained the lead at 66-64 when Tyra Roberts completed a 3-point play by making a layup followed by a free throw. A seesaw battle ensued creating a photo finish. After Julia Venturelli made a trey to give the Pride a 68-67 lead, Alvernia's Tyra Roberts answered on the other end to put the Crusaders up by one with 10 seconds left.
 
Despite surrendering the lead, Widener got the clutch basket it needed after calling a timeout to set up one last play when Ferrucci converted a layup in the waning seconds. Alvernia got a good look to attempt to win it at the buzzer, but Chelsea Ebersole's desperation attempt from downtown hit off the front end of the rim.
 
Widener got off to a slow start, surrendering nine straight points before senior Brianna Wylie (Mount Laurel, N.J.) converted a layup to make it 9-2 at the 5:54 mark. Jenna Wolff extended the Crusader lead to 16-8 by canning one of her team's five 3-pointers in the opening frame before Ferrucci hit a buzzer-beating jumper to create a 23-19 score at the end of the first quarter.
 
The Pride continued chipping away at the deficit and tied the game for the first time since the opening tip at 27-all when freshman Tasjah Davis (Hebron, Md.) put back a missed shot by sophomore Nikki Petri (Congers, N.Y.). Freshman Emily Hardy (Lewisberry, Pa.) created another deadlock at 29s by sinking two free throws, but the hosts continued to shoot lights out from long range and got a 3-pointer from Olivia Andrefski to stay ahead. An apparent trifecta by Gallagher at the buzzer did not count because the ball was released too late, and the Crusaders escaped with a 34-31 edge at recess.
 
The visitors kept it close at the beginning of the third, but Alvernia embarked on an 11-5 run to burst ahead by a 52-42 score. Widener, however, effectively utilized a fullcourt press and sliced the deficit down to one as Ferrucci drove in for another buzzer-beating shot to make it 54-53 heading into the fourth before providing the heroics 10 minutes later.
 
Widener was led by Ferrucci, who filled up the box score with 13 points, seven assists, six rebounds and five steals. Six of her points came on two buzzer-beating shots at the end of the first and third quarters along with the game-winning basket in the waning seconds of regulation. Gallagher and Sutliff finished with 15 points apiece, while Sutliff's scoring mark was also a career high.
 
Roberts paced Alvernia (7-11, MAC Commonwealth 2-7) by scoring a game-high 20 points to go along with nine boards. Stevie Fortna added 17 points and seven helpers, and Ebersole finished with 15 points in the losing effort.
 
Widener (12-6, MAC Commonwealth 5-4) returns to the Schwartz Center to host 23rd-ranked Albright on Wednesday, Jan. 27 at 6:00 p.m.