Mount Alvernia is minus three four-year starters from last season's team that reached the WPIAL Class A girls' basketball semifinals.

The Lions (13-3, 4-0) continue to roll, however, as the dominant team in Section 4-A. Mount Alvernia had its 10-game winning streak interrupted by a 61-52, non-section defeat at Class AA Shady Side Academy last Friday, but expected to get back on track after a 63-38 win against Springdale Tuesday. They return to section play at home tonight against winless Elderton.

Four players average 11 to 12 points per game for Mount Alvernia led by 5-6 sophomore guard/forward Karmyn Gouch, 5-6 sophomore guard Lisa Kaczynski, 5-6 junior guard/forward Tracie Ferrari and 5-5 senior guard Kayla Brandt, who serves as a team co-captain with 5-10 senior forward Ashley Kowalski who averages 6 ppg.

"One of the secrets of our team this season has been our balanced scoring, with four players averaging in double-figures," assistant coach Bill Barker said. "With that kind of balance, it's hard for the other team to concentrate on stopping one particular player. We have a lot of players with the ability to shoot and score."

The team's sixth man is only a freshman: 5-11 Katarina Owunna, who averages six points and three blocked shots per game. Other valuable players off the bench are 5-3 senior guard Laura Schweiger, 5-4 senior guard Stephanie Kaczynski and 5-8 freshman forward Tahler McIntosh.

Despite graduating seven players from last season, Mount Alvernia was the preseason favorite to win the Section 4-A title since it had several key players moving up from a junior varsity team that only lost one game last year.

"We were confident that the players coming up through the system could do the job and we're really pleased that they've matured this quickly," Barker said.

"They work hard and they also work well together as a team. These players who were on the JV last year also saw some time on the varsity back then, so they had some idea what it was like before they became starters."

In addition to its spotless section mark this season, the Lions have impressive non-section wins against City League powerhouse Schenley (twice) as well as against WPIAL Class A title-contenders Duquesne and Clairton, the team it lost to in the WPIAL playoffs last season.

"It's always been our philosophy to schedule tough non-section opponents," Barker said. "Coach De [Poruznik, the team's head coach] and the staff have always believed in challenging our team every year."

Mount Alvernia's only losses have been against Class AAAA Fox Chapel, Class AA No. 3 Our Lady of the Sacred Heart and Shady Side Academy which is 16-2 and leads Section 4-AA.

Mount Alvernia, seeking its first WPIAL title in nine years, has two important section games on the horizon.

The Lions play two challenging section road games in the next week. On Saturday Mount Alvernia travels to St. Joseph (9-8, 2-2) and then plays at Vincentian (7-11, 4-1) Feb. 2.

Mount Alvernia defeated St. Joe's, 56-46, in the first meeting Dec. 22 and escaped with a 58-54 win at home against Vincentian on Jan. 9.HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS' BASKETBALL