MILWAUKEE, Wis. – The Edgewood College women's basketball team rang in the new year in style with a 63-50 victory over Alverno College on Saturday night. The Eagles used a lightning fast 18-4 run over the final six minutes of the first half to seize control of the game. Rachel Pope scored 19 points to give the Eagles their first two-game winning streak of the season.

Despite not scoring for the first four minutes of the game, Edgewood College (5-8, 4-4 NACC) had still built a 14-6 lead playing outstanding defense on the Inferno. Hannah Menzia and Pope each converted a three-point play in the early going. The Eagles limited Alverno College (3-9, 1-6 NACC) to just 3-for-11 shooting and three turnovers in the first eight minutes.

The Eagles really began rolling at the six minute mark of the first half. Leading 19-10 Ellen Hayden scored four straight points on a basket and a pair of free throws, while Sierra Jiran and Pope followed with baskets on the Eagles next two possessions. Mariah Hill then nailed the Eagles' first three-point basket of the night, followed immediately by a steal and layup for Jiran for a 32-12 Eagles' lead. Hayden and Zoey Dougherty would two more baskets before halftime, and the Eagles held a commanding 36-14 lead.

In the second half, Edgewood College pushed the margin out to as many as 26 points on a Hill jumper with 11:21 to go that made the score 50-24. Alverno chipped away at the lead, holding the Eagles without a field goal for a five-minute stretch to get within 61-50, but never seriously threatened to steal the game.

Pope was the only Eagle in double figures and led all scorers with 19 points on 6-for-11 shooting and a team-high four assists. Menzia scored nine points off the bench, while Hayden and Jiran scored eight apiece. Courtney Spangler pulled down a game-high nine rebounds. Edgewood College shot 42.9 percent in the first half in building their lead and finished at 39.7 percent for the game.

Alverno College received 18 points from Mollie Mikyska and another 10 points from Julie Gallegos. The Eagles limited the Alverno to just 25 percent shooting in the first half and forced 18 turnovers in the contest.

Edgewood College will carry their modest two-game winning streak back to Madison for a Tuesday night date in the Edgedome with Dominican University. The Eagles and Stars will tipoff at 7:00 p.m. in a NACC showdown.