CHESTER, Pa. (Jan. 11, 2017) – Despite getting a career performance from junior Allison Gallagher (Souderton, Pa.), the Widener University women's basketball team was dealt a 67-65 overtime loss by Alvernia on Wednesday evening at the Schwartz Center.

After Miranda Hoover hit a game-tying jumper with four seconds left in regulation, Widener took a timeout to advance the ball and have an opportunity to win the game. Gallagher's shot attempt, however, was blocked by Hoover to force the teams to settle the score in overtime.
 
Alvernia (1-14, MAC Commonwealth 1-5) built up a 64-57 lead with under a minute remaining in the extra session by getting balanced scoring and holding the Pride to just one point in the short frame. But even though the Crusaders appeared to have momentum, Gallagher sank a 3-pointer to make it 64-62 with 21 seconds left to put the hosts back in striking distance. Freshman Devan Rimmer then attempted a 3-pointer following a Crusader turnover on an inbounds pass, but Torie Zerbe swatted it away and grabbed the rebound. She then canned two free throws to put the game out of reach.
 
The teams collectively played a sloppy first quarter while combining to shoot 3-for-30 from the field which resulted in only 10 points on the scoreboard. Widener, however, was able to come out of it with a 7-3 advantage by owning the offensive glass.
 
After a rough start, the Crusaders came out stronger in the second and opened the frame on a 16-2 run to establish control. Maya Cooper drove in for a layup to give her team a 19-9 lead, and a Torie Zerbe bucket at the buzzer gave the visitors a 24-19 advantage at recess.
 
Widener came out strong in the second half, as freshman Devan Rimmer (Parkasie, Pa.) and Gallagher hit back-to-back 3-pointers to slash what was previously an 11-point deficit down to one in the opening minutes. But despite making it a one-point game on four other occasions and eventually building up a 55-51 advantage in the waning minutes, the Crusaders most notably got two key blocks from Hoover and Torie Zerbe down the stretch to hang on and earn their first win of the season.
 
Hoover led Alvernia in the win by accumulating a double-double with 12 points and 12 rebounds to go along with three blocks. Torie Zerbe had a strong all-around effort with 12 points, nine boards, three blocks and three steals, while Liv Andrefski recorded a team-leading 14 points.
 
Gallagher registered a double-double by racking up 24 points and a career-high 14 rebounds to pace Widener in the setback. Rimmer came just shy of a triple-double by contributing 14 points, nine boards and seven steals.
 
Widener (4-11, MAC Commonwealth 1-5) continues league play when it visits Hood on Saturday, Jan. 14 at 1 p.m.