READING, Pa. – The Albright women's basketball team advanced to the MAC Commonwealth Championship game for the third consecutive season with its 67-53 victory over Lycoming on Wednesday night at Bollman Center. The victory gives head coach
Janice Luck 200 wins for her career. The win gives the Lions a home date in the MAC Commonwealth Championship with Messiah on Saturday at 2 p.m.
As it had in each of the team's first two meetings this season, Lycoming found some success against the Lions. The Warriors (15-11) carried a 14-11 lead after the first quarter thanks to some strong defense mixed with cold shooting by the Lions. Albright shot 19 percent (4-for-21) and trailed by as many as seven in the first period, but a pair of layup by
Alysha Lofton in the final minute cut the deficit to three.
Lycoming carried the advantage through most of the second quarter, but an 8-0 Albright run highlighted by a pair of
MiKayla Lea baskets put the Lions on top, 23-20. Lycoming regained a 27-25 lead with 14 seconds left, but
Nina Mazzarelli drilled a three pointer in the final seconds to send Albright to halftime with a 28-27 advantage. Lea had 14 points in 25 minutes off the bench.
Devan Horka was a catalyst all night for the Lions. At the half, she had six points and nine rebounds to keep Albright close. She finished with 10 points and a career-high 16 rebounds for her second straight double-double.
The Lions pulled away in the third. Albright used a 12-2 run to turn a 36-36 tie into a 48-38 lead with 1:43 left in the quarter. Horka, Lofton and
Shannon Thomas each scored four points on the run. Albright managed to keep the Warriors no closer than seven points through the fourth quarter. The lead pushed as high as 16 in the final minutes.
Lofton had 13 points and 11 rebounds to join Horka in the double-double club. She also had six assists. Mazzarelli had a game-high 20 points including four three pointers. Albright won the rebounding battle, 49-35.
The Lions will face Messiah for the title on Saturday having been the only team to beat the Falcons all season. Albright won both regular season games against the 24-2 Falcons including last Saturday's 70-63 win. Saturday's title tilt will start at 2 p.m. at Bollman Center.
