ANNVILLE, Pa. – Skeptics may have looked at the schedule of the Albright women's basketball team and questioned why head coach Janice Luck would play 10 of the team's first 11 games on the road. That answer revealed itself on Saturday as an already battle tested Lion squad emerged with a key conference road win as junior Shannon Thomas scored a season-high 16 points in a 55-49 victory over Lebanon Valley in Sorrentino Gymnasium.
 
Thomas hit the go-ahead basket and the Albright defense put the clamps on Lebanon Valley down the stretch to improve to 7-0 overall and 2-0 in MAC Commonwealth play. The victory also extends the Lions school record season-opening winning streak to seven straight.
 
Lexie Lantz gave Lebanon Valley a 49-46 lead with 4:28 to play in the fourth quarter, but that would be the last basket the Dutchmen would score.
 
Kelecia Harris made 1-of-2 free throw attempts to bring Albright to within 49-47 and Amara-Niani Jackson tied the game at 49-49 on a layup with 3:02 left in the game.
 
Thomas then drilled a three-pointer to put Albright ahead to stay at 52-49 with 2:23 remaining in the game.
 
Nina Mazzarelli increased the Albright lead to 54-49 with a pair of free throws with 42 seconds to play and Alysha Lofton sealed the victory by making 1-of-2 free throws with 18 seconds left in the fourth quarter.
 
Albright, which limited Lebanon Valley to just 32.1 percent shooting for the game, not only held the Dutchmen scoreless over the final 4:28 of the game it also did not allow a shot as it forced LVC into five consecutive turnovers to end the game.
 
Defense ruled the day as Albright was limited to just 34.5 percent shooting in a contest that featured nine ties and 10 lead changes.
 
Thomas was 6-of-14 from the floor to finish with a game-high 16 points in addition to having six assists and five rebounds.
 
Harris was the only other Albright player to reach double figures in scoring as she finished with 10 points. She also added six rebounds and three blocked shots.
 
Mazzarelli added nine points for the Lions, while Jane Joyce had seven rebounds and three assists and Lofton recorded seven rebounds, five points and four steals.
 
Lebanon Valley, which dropped to 5-2 overall and 1-1 in conference play, was led by Lantz who scored 11 points. Bridget Rothert had 10 points and Taylor Troutman added nine points and 12 rebounds.

Lebanon Valley raced out to an 11-4 lead in the first quarter highlighted by back-to-back three-pointers by Taylor Umbrell.

A jumper by Joyce and a Thomas three-pointer brought Albright to within 11-9 with 2:32 to play in the opening quarter.

Another basket by Thomas with six seconds to play in the opening quarter but the Lebanon Valley lead to 15-13.

Albright opened the second quarter on a 6-0 run to take its first lead of the game. Emily O'Donnell converted a layup and made two free throws to give the Lions a 17-15 lead with 6:39 to play before halftime and Harris upped the lead to 19-15 with a short jumper.

Lebanon Valley tied the game at 20-20 on a jumper by Kiely Chaklos with 3:40 to play in the second quarter.

MiKayla Lea put Albright back in front with a pair of free throws with 3:24 to play, but Lantz countered with two free throws to tie the game.

Two Thomas free throws put the Lions back in the lead at 24-22 and Albright took a 24-23 lead into halftime following a free throw by Lantz.

Taylor Troutman opened the third quarter with a basket giving the Dutchmen the lead at 25-24, but Albright responded with a 10-0 run to regain the lead.

Harris had three points during the run and Thomas capped the run with back-to-back baskets giving the Lions a 34-25 lead with 5:15 to play in the quarter.

Lebanon Valley responded with a 10-2 run, which cut the Lions lead to 36-35 with 34 seconds to play in the third quarter.

Rothert opened the fourth quarter with a basket that gave the Dutchmen a 39-38 lead, but Mazzarelli drilled a three-pointer giving Albright a 41-39 lead with 8:57 to play in the game.

Troutman and Chaklos put Lebanon Valley back in front with back-to-back layups, but Mazzarelli gave Albright a 44-43 lead on a three-point play with 6:41 to play.

Chaklos made two free throws to put LVC back in front at 45-44 and the Dutchmen pushed the lead to 49-46 on a basket by Lantz, which set the stage for the Albright rally.

Albright continues its road swing as it visits Keystone on Wednesday (Dec. 9) for a 7 p.m. non-conference game.