Box Score

The Albright College women's basketball team couldn't secure the key defensive rebound down the stretch, as the Lions fell 60-57 in a close Saturday encounter at Elizabethtown.

Junior Amanda Tiritilli hit a three-pointer with 1:28 remaining to make it 55-53 Elizabethtown. The Blue Jays missed twice at the other end but pulled down both offensive rebounds, eventually leading to Kendra Beittel's trey and a 58-53 lead in the final minute.

After fouling several times, the Lions got to within three and had the ball back after an Etown free throw was off the mark. However, Jessica Venturelli's three-point attempt to send the game into overtime missed.

Sophomore Emily O'Donnell continued her efficient play for Albright with 18 points in 19 minutes, on 7-of-12 shooting. Freshman Shannon Thomas added 10 points and five assists.

Venturelli opened the scoring with a putback. Meghan Boyle fed Kelecia Harris for a basket and then converted herself for an early 6-2 Lion advantage.

Elizabethtown went on a 10-0 run before O'Donnell broke an Albright scoreless streak of 3:42 with a basket. Harris tied things up at 13-13, but soon went to bench with her second foul after less than 10 minutes of play.

The Lions hung in however, with Thomas tying the game at 18-18 with a three-pointer, and then again at 20-20 with a jumper.

Another Thomas basket put the Lions in front 28-27 with 2:15 remaining in the first half. She then assisted Boyle for a 30-27 lead, and made a three-pointer to send Albright into the locker room up 33-29.

Boyle finished off a put-back on the Lions' first possession of the second half to give the visitors their largest lead thus far- 35-29.

The teams were tied at 35, 37, 39 and 41. Albright edged into another six-point lead, 47-41 on O'Donnell's jumper, but Elizabethtown soon went ahead 49-47 on Rachel Forjan's triple.

DIII News Honorable Mention Preseason All-American Taylor Kreider had a big day for Elizabethtown (10-1 overall), who is one spot outside the D3hoops.com Top-25 poll voting. Kreider totaled 21 points, 21 rebounds and six steals.

Albright falls to 7-5, 2-4 and will host Penn State-Berks on Monday in the Lions' final non-conference game of the regular season.