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READING, Pa. - It has been five years since the Lions found themselves competing for a Division III National Championship, but come this Friday the red and white return to the “big dance” as they host the Cougars of Clark University (MA) Friday evening at 8 p.m. in the Bollman Center.

Albright who will be making their 9th appearance in the NCAA tournament is coming off a dominant 87-74 conference championship win on Saturday. The Lions who defeated Lycoming College for the programs 8th conference championship were chosen as the host site for the first and second rounds of this year's tournament.

The Lions currently sitting with a 21-5 record overall; will be facing Clark University for the first time ever in the NCAA tournament. Both teams competed in the 1980 National tournament, with Clark advancing to the Regional Championship round, and Albright to the “Elite Eight”. That year was also the best finish for Albright in the NCAA tournament in the program's history.

This weekend's match-up will be the second for Head Coach Rick Ferry in his nine seasons at Albright. In their last trip, which was in 2005, Coach Ferry led Albright to the second round of the tournament, before they were defeated by Freedom Conference member King's College 57-55.

For Clark University (16-12) this Saturday' contest will be the program's 16th trip to the NCAA tournament. From 1977-1988 the Cougars made 11 consecutive trips to the postseason. Following a long dry-spell the Cougars returned the tournament in 1999, and then in 2001, 2002, and 2003 all under Head Coach Paul Philips. In 2001 and 2002 Coach Philips led his Cougars to the round of eight.

Now in his 12th season and second stint at Clark, Coach Philips has earned the program five New England Women and Men Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) tournament titles, and closed out their 2009-10 conference campaign with a 4-8 record.

In looking at Friday's match-up, the Lions will have a very strong one-two punch in the Commonwealth Conference Player of the Year and First Team All-Conference honoree Zac Shaeffer, and Second Team All-Conference selection Matt Ashcroft.

The Lions only double-figure scorers, Shaeffer's unprecedented season has seen him average a conference best 18.3 points per game, while Ashcroft ranks in the top-5 in the Commonwealth averaging over 15 points per game. Playing a major part in their success this season, has been their consistent shooting from behind the arc and at the free throw line. Combined the two are 137-for-379 when shooting the long ball, and at the line the duo are shooting 82.8% respectively.

Clark will enter the Bollman Center with a pair of double-figure scorers of their own in Mark Alexander and Brian Vayda, who were both named First Team All-NEWMAC selections on Tuesday.

Currently averaging 17.6 points per game, Alexander sits fifth all-time in scoring at Clark, and is ranked second on the team in rebounding. Vayda who stands at 6'5” is not only averaging over 15 points per game, but is the Cougars top rebounder with 191 boards (6.8 rpg).