YORK, PA – York's Taylor Burda hit a contested lay-up with 5.1 seconds left to give the Spartan women's basketball team a dramatic 67-65 win over Alvernia University in the teams MAC Commonwealth opener on Wednesday night in York.
Burda tallied a new career high of 25 points to lead the Spartans to victory.
York improves to 7-4 overall and 1-0 in the league while the Golden Wolves fall to 8-4 overall and 0-1 in the conference.
 
How It Happened
• The Golden Wolves got off to a strong start as they began the game with an 8-4 lead 3:32 into the game. The Spartans responded with a 14-3 run as York got eight points from Taylor Burda on the run. The Spartans converted 5-of-6 shots during the spurt including a trio of three pointers. The Golden Wolves scored five of the final eight points of the quarter as the Spartans led 21-16.
• Alvernia turned their fortunes around in the second quarter as they began the period on a 10-0 run before the Spartans called timeout. The Golden Wolves went 4-for-6 from the field while they knocked down a pair of triples. York went 0-for-4 and committed a pair of turnovers as Alvernia led 26-21 with 5:43 left in the half. The Wolves extended their run with three free throws over the next two minutes as they led 29-21. Burda broke the run with a driving lay-up before the shot clock expired with 3:57 left in the half. The Spartans closed the half on a 9-2 run to bring their halftime deficit to just a point despite being outscored 15-9 in the quarter.
• The Spartans got off to a quick start in the third quarter with a 10-5 run that saw them go 4-for-4 from the field to take a 40-36 lead a mere 2:22 into the period. The Spartans pushed the lead to 50-44 only to have Alvernia finish the quarter on a 7-0 run to take a 51-50 lead to the fourth quarter. The Spartans killed themselves in the quarter with seven more turnovers which handed Alvernia another eight points off the York miscues.
• The Wolves started the fourth off strong with a 7-2 spurt to take a 58-54 lead. The Spartans responded with a 6-0 run to take a 60-58 lead with 4:28 left in regulation. Alvernia answered with a 7-2 run to take a 65-62 lead with 2:23 remaining in regulation. Burda hit a game-tying three at the 1:54 mark to tie the game. York got a stop but then committed their 23^th turnover of the game but Alvernia was called for an offensive foul with 51 seconds left. York's final turnover gave the Wolves the ball with 43 seconds left in the tie game. A York timeout set up the Spartans with 23.2 seconds left in regulation. The Spartans ran the clock down under ten when Burda drove to the lane and finished a contested lay-up to give York the lead. Alvernia would not be able to get a shot off in the final 5.1 ticks of the game as York hung on for the big conference win.
 
By the Numbers
The Spartans finished the game shooting 43.9% from the floor, 37.5% (9-for-24) from three and 80% (8-for-10) from the free throw line … the Golden Wolves shot 33.3% from the field, 30% (9-for-30) from three and 8-for-13 (61.5%) from the free throw line … York dominated on the glass holding a 50-35 margin in rebounding but that margin on led to a 7-4 margin in second chance points .. the Spartans committed 24 turnovers which led to 23 Golden Wolves points while Alvernia had a mere eight turnovers which led to just two Spartan points … York held a 4-1 edge in blocked shots … there were five ties and 11 lead changes in the game … York led for 49.4% of play in the contest.
 
Spartan Notes
The Spartans are now 12-8 against Alvernia all-time as they snapped a two-game losing streak to the Golden Wolves … York is now 2-1 in MAC Commonwealth openers under Betsy Witman and 2-1 in MAC home openers … the Spartans shot 43.9% from the field, their second-highest percentage of the year (48.1% at Susquehanna) … their nine made three point field goals were a new season high for York … the 50 Spartan rebounds were their second-highest total of the year (51 vs. Juniata) … York's plus 15 margin on the glass tied for their season high which also came against Juniata … the two-point margin of victory is York's smallest of the year and marks just the third time this year they have won by less than double figures … Taylor Burda led the way for the Green and White as she poured in a career-high 25 points and grabbed six boards for York … Burda was 10-for-19 from the floor including 4-for-10 from three and 1-for-2 at the line … Alyssa Hocker recorded a career-high with 19 points and 12 rebounds for her second straight double-double and fourth of the year … Hocker was 7-for-11 from the floor including 3-for-7 from three and 2-for-2 at the stripe … Breana Grim was the third Spartan in double figures with 11 points, six rebounds, six assists, a blocked shot and two steals … Brooklyn Naylor collected a season-high ten rebounds.
 
Up Next
The Spartans head out on the road for the start of a four-game road trip starting Saturday in St. David's, PA where the Spartans will face the Eastern University Eagles. Tip time from the Nest is set for 1:00 pm.

Audio Highlights Courtesy of Darrell Henry - The Voice of the Spartans