READING, Pa. – Senior Jessica Venturelli put Albright ahead to stay with a jumper with 32.7 seconds left in regulation and the Lions advanced to the ECAC South Championship game with a 61-59 victory over Moravian on Saturday in the Bollman Center.

The Lions trailed 59-56 with 1:28 to play following a free throw by Moravian's Alexis Wright, but Albright would rally.
Emily O'Donnell followed up her own missed layup with a putback basket that brought Albright to within 59-58 with 1:06 remaining in the game.

O'Donnell collected the rebound following a miss from Wright on the Greyhounds next possession, and Venturelli calmly drilled a 15-footer to put the Lions in front 60-59.

Moravian missed two layups on its next trip and O'Donnell secured the rebound and was fouled. The junior made the first free throw and missed the second attempt, but Kadijah Bishop gathered in the loose ball securing Albright's first-ever trip to the ECAC Championship game.

With the win, Albright improved to 21-7 on the season and broke the school record for victories in a single season. The Lions previous best was 20 wins compiled by the 2007-08 team.

The win sets up a showdown with Lebanon Valley for the ECAC South Championship. The two teams split the season series with each team winning on its home court. The Dutchmen advanced to the title game with a 63-57 victory over Washington & Jefferson.

Albright received a dominating performance from Commonwealth Conference Player of the Year Kelecia Harris. The junior scored 25 points and hauled in 15 rebounds to lead the Lions. She also had four steals, two blocks and an assist.

Venturelli finished with 12 points and five assists, while junior Shannon Thomas added 10 points and six assists. O'Donnell finished with seven points and 10 rebounds, while Bishop grabbed 10 rebounds.

Moravian, which ended its season with a 15-12 record, was led by Wright who had 19 points and 11 rebounds. Samantha Caligiuri added 10 points and five rebounds for the Greyhounds.

This marked the second meeting of the season between the Lions and the Greyhounds and Saturday's game played out much like the first meeting which Albright won in overtime 75-71.

Albright raced out to a 16-5 lead to begin the game highlighted by eight consecutive points from Harris.

Marie Rossignoli answered with a three-pointer for Moravian to cut the lead to 16-8, but Venturelli drilled a three-pointer of her own to up the lead to 19-8 with 9:40 to play in the first half.

Albright took its largest lead of the game at 24-11 when Harris scored inside with 7:07 to play in the opening period.

Moravian responded with an 18-4 run to close the first half to take a 29-28 lead into the intermission.

Moravian stretched the lead to 36-31 on a jumper by Alesha Marcks with 17:35 to play in the game, but Albright answered with an 8-0 run to take a 39-36 lead with 15:17 left to play.

Emily MacDonnell drilled a three-pointer to tie the game and the Greyhounds took a 43-39 lead with 13:33 following two free throws by Wright and a jumper by Marcks.

A 6-0 run by Albright, capped by a three-pointer by Thomas, gave the Lions a 47-45 lead with 11:16 left in the game.

Moravian took a 51-47 lead following a 6-0 run with 9:50 to play in the second period.

After Harris converted a free throw to cut the Moravian lead to 53-51 with 6:31 to play, the Greyhounds put together a 5-0 run.

Caligiuri converted a three-point play and Wright scored inside giving Moravian its largest lead of the game at 58-51 with 4:19 to play.

Venturelli answered with a huge three-pointer to cut the lead to 58-54 and the Lions climbed to within 58-56 following free throws by Harris and Thomas.

Wright then made one of two free-throw attempts giving the Greyhounds a 59-56 lead with 1:28 left and setting the stage for the Lions comeback.

Albright and Lebanon Valley will meet at 2 p.m. in the Bollman Center for the ECAC South Championship.