Box Score

The fact that the Lady Lions of Albright and the Warriors of Lycoming came into Wednesday night's game tied for the fifth and final playoff spot in a tight Commonwealth Conference game was not lost on anyone who was on the court as both teams battled back and forth, with Lycoming eventually claiming the victory by a score of 54-52.

The last 5:54 of the game saw neither team lead by more than two points as the Lions (7-9, 3-6 Commonwealth) and Warriors (4-11, 4-5 Commonwealth) traded baskets back and forth.

Albright used scores from sophomore Jessica Venturelli and freshman Emily O'Donnell to keep the game close in the final six minutes, but ultimately, the Red and White could not prevail.

Venturelli nailed a basket from beyond the arc to give the Lions a 50-48 lead with 3:43 to go, but Lycoming was able to answer right back to tie the game at 50 on a basket by Olivia Manges.

On the next Albright possession, O'Donnell found her way through the lane to the hoop and dropped in a layup with what would end up being the final points for Albright as they would briefly reclaim the lead 52-50.

After a Lycoming score to tie the game at 52 mixed with some missed opportunities and timeouts for the Red and White, Albright could not stop Lycoming's leading scorer on the night, Julia Antonelli, as she drove past two Albright defenders to the basket for the game-winning score.

On the night, Albright was led by forward Kelecia Harris. The freshman dropped 22 points while pulling down 13 rebounds for the double-double. Harris also added five blocked shots.

The only other Lady Lion who was in double figures in points was Venturelli, who helped her team's cause with 11 points.

Albright trailed at halftime by a single point, but the Lady Lions used a 7-0 run over 2+ minutes to build their lead to as many as seven points in the final period.

Turnovers and fouls plagued the Lady Lions throughout the game, however, which allowed Lycoming to creep back into the game and eventually get the win.

With the loss, the Lions find themselves on the outside looking in at the Commonwealth Conference playoff picture. Albright now trails Lycoming by a game for the fifth and final playoff spot and trails Elizabethtown by two games for the fourth spot after Elizabethtown won at Stevenson University.

The games do not get any easier for the Red and White as Albright will travel to Chester, Pa. on January 19 to do battle with Widener, who is currently third in the Commonwealth Conference standings. Tip off between the Lions and the Pride is set for 1 p.m.