ASTON, Pa. – Tournament most valuable player
Nina Mazzarelli scored 14 points leading the Albright women's basketball team to a 73-41 victory over Neumann in the championship game of the Neumann Tip-Off Tournament on Saturday afternoon at the Mirenda Center.
Mazzarelli converted 4-of-7 three-point attempts on the day and also added two rebounds to claim tournament most valuable player honors. She scored 16 points in the Lions opening round victory over Lancaster Bible.
Sophomore
Alysha Lofton was also named to the all-tournament team as she followed up her 18-point effort in the opening round by scoring 11 points and grabbing eight rebounds in the championship game.
Albright also received 10 points, three rebounds and three assists from junior
Shannon Thomas, while
Amara-Niani Jackson added nine points, seven rebounds and four steals.
The Lions dominated the boards as they owned a 46-28 advantage and also limited Neumann to just 28.0 percent shooting from the field.
With the victory, the Lions improved to 2-0 on the season, while Neumann dropped to 1-1 on the season..
The last time Albright opened up the season 2-0 dates back to the 2013-14 campaign as both of the wins came on the road.
Albright used a late first-quarter run to open up a lead. The Lions closed the first quarter on an 11-2 run to take a 16-10 lead. Mazzarelli keyed the run with a pair of three-point baskets.
Albright continued to extend the lead in the second quarter as another three-pointer by Mazzarelli upped the Lions lead to 28-14 with 5:08 to play before halftime.
Neumann trimmed the lead to 29-21 with 1:36 to play in the second quarter, but the Lions closed the quarter on a 5-0 run to take a 34-21 lead into halftime.
Albright blew the game open in the third quarter as Lofton scored nine consecutive points to increase the lead to 43-21 with 5:38 to play in the quarter.
The Lions took their largest lead of the game at 67-31 on a jumper by
Jane Joyce with 3:09 left in the game.
Up next, Albright continues their road tilts as they travel to Ursinus on Tuesday (Nov. 17) for a 7 p.m. tip-off in non-conference action.
