ERIE, PA – The Alfred University women's basketball team earned a decisive, 88-61 non-conference victory to close out the Penn State-Behrend Tip-Off Tournament, defeating SUNY Canton on Saturday afternoon.
 
"On a quick turnaround, we were sluggish coming out with regards to our intensity and urgency to play at a high level. They came out strong and ready to build a lead," Head Coach Mike Moskowitz said. "We settled in and found a way to make a run at the end of the first and beginning of the second to help us build a four-point lead. From that point on, we were steady and then finished the half by winning the last few minutes really strong to give us a decent lead at half."
 
Felicia Stewart (Ann Arbor, MI/Pioneer) was selected to the All-Tournament Team on Saturday for the Saxons (3-1, 0-0 Empire 8). AU was led in Saturday's contest with 16 points from Grace Rittenhouse (Dansville, NY/Dansville) while four other Saxons contributed double-digit points. Leah Harkenrider (Hornell, NY/Hornell) and Gillian Flint (Caledonia, NY/Caledonia-Mumford) both had 14 points each while Ana Ion (Bucharest, Romania/Episcopal School of Jacksonville) and Stewart had 11 points.
 
Flint had a double-double with 10 rebounds, tagging along with her 14 points. 
 
The Saxons outscored the Roos (1-2, 0-0 North Atlantic) in each of the four quarters except for a 15-15 tie in the fourth. AU posted a huge third quarter, coming out of a 41-34 halftime lead, scoring 32 points while only allowing 12.
 
One of the biggest statistical comparisons between the two teams on Saturday, was Alfred's ability to keep possessions and force SUNY Canton to relinquish the ball. AU only had 11 turnovers while stealing the ball 14 times. The Roos had 24 turnovers and only stole the ball five times from a Saxon.
 
"I was very pleased with our ability to execute the adjustments in the press in the second half and really dominate that third quarter," Coach Moskowitz said. "It was awesome to see contributions across the board and patience within our offensive attacks, leading to high quality shots that we converted on. We're looking forward to focusing on how we can get better this next week before our home tournament!"
 
The game, itself, had very little lead changes as the last and what would go on to be the final lead change of the day as Rittenhouse hit a jumper in the paint with 2:32 remaining in the first half. The last tie of the game occurred seconds later with a Canton made free throw (missed the first of the two-shot trip to the line).
 
Ion put AU back up with a free throw on the next possession before a 3-pointer from Allison O'Toole (Simi Valley, CA/Simi Valley) put AU up four points, starting a 8-2 run to close out the half.
 
SUNY Canton scored the opening two baskets of the second half before AU went on a tear, scoring the next 12 points, unanswered, giving AU the 53-38 advantage. The Saxons continued to construct scoring runs in similar fashion for the remainder of the quarter, ending it with a 27-point lead, 73-46.
 
AU earned the top lead of the night when Samantha Fischer (Wappingers Falls, NY/Our Lady of Lourdes) hit a 3-pointer off a pass from Harkenrider, making it a 33-point game, 85-52 with 7:39 remaining in the game.
 
The Saxons will next play at Alfred State College against Hiram College on Saturday, November 20 at 2:00pm.