JEFFERSON TWP — Going 1 minute and 55 seconds without scoring isn't the worst drought a basketball team can experience.

But that's just how the Union girls basketball team saw a third-consecutive trip to the PIAA Class A quarterfinals fade into a 77-64 loss to Mount Alvernia Wednesday night at Knoch High School.

When Tiffany Corle sank a basket with 3:49 left to play, the game was tied at 57.

Union's next points — Corle's two free throws with 1:54 left — broke a 9-0 Lions' run that proved to be too much for the Damsels to overcome.

Trailing late in the game, Union was forced to foul. But the Lions made enough of their free throws, 9-of-13 in the final two minutes, to keep the Damsels at a safe distance.

"Give credit to (Mount Alvernia)," said Union coach Josh Meeker. "They finished the game strong, stronger than I've seen a team finish in a while."

Union's chances were dealt a major blow early in the third quarter when senior forward Denyelle Painter left the game with a left ankle injury and didn't return.

With Painter on the bench, the Lions immediately began to dominate the boards.

"Her loss was huge," said Meeker. "We knew coming in that they were much bigger than us and then we lose our tallest player on the floor."

Still, the Damsels stayed within striking distance.

Corle's 3-point goal with 1:23 left in the third quarter tied the game at 51.

But Tracie Ferrari's free throw with 1:06 left in the third put the Lions ahead for good.

Mount Alvernia (21-7) finished the game with four players in double figures in points, led by Lisa Kaczynski's game-high 23.

Kaczynski's total included 10 points in the first quarter, after which the Lions led 15-13.

Renee Brown added 17 points, Karmyn Gouch had 14 and Ferrari added 11.

"Balanced scoring, that's the trademark of this team," said Lions assistant coach Bill Barker.

The Damsels (27-4) also featured four players in double figures — Corle with 21 and Divins, Painter and Torri Smith each with 11.

Union held a 29-22 lead with 2:10 left in the first half, but three turnovers helped the Lions pull to within 31-30 at the break.

"We were getting concerned on the bench," said Barker. "We didn't want Union taking a nine or 10-point lead into the half. That late run by us was very big and it gave us renewed optimism."

Union's season comes to an end, but long after many people expected it to.

"A lot of people didn't figure us to be here," said Meeker. "I'm proud of the girls."

MOUNT ALVERNIA 77Katarina Owunna 1 0-2 2, Tracie Ferrari 3 5-6 11, Lisa Kaczynski 7 5-9 23, Tahlar McIntosh 0 1-2 1, Gabby Holko 2 5-6 9, Karmyn Gouch 6 2-2 14, Renee Brown 7 3-8 17.

Totals: 26 21-35 77.

UNION 64Tiffany Corle 8 4-6 21, Janele Divins 4 0-0 11, Mackenzie Shirey 0 2-4 2, Denyelle Painter 4 3-6 11, Torri Smith 4 2-2 11, Alicia Anthony 2 0-0 4, Meagan Booth 1 0-3 2, Courtney Frederick 1 0-0 2, Corri Seybert 0 0-0 0.

Totals: 24 11-21 64.

Mount Alvernia 15 15 22 25—77Union 13 18 20 13—643-point goals: Mt. Alvernia 4 (Kaczynski); Union 5 (Divins 3, Corle, Smith)

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