READING, Pa. – Senior
Kelecia Harris scored a season-high 28 points and sophomore
Nina Mazzarelli made two key free throws with 11 seconds left to lead No. 20 Albright to a 63-59 MAC Commonwealth victory over Lycoming on Wednesday in the Bollman Center.
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Olivia Manges connected on a three-pointer for Lycoming that trimmed the Albright lead to 60-59 with 1:03 to play in the second half.
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After getting fouled by Chelsea Henderson, Mazzarelli calmly knocked down a pair of free throws that extended the Lions lead to 62-59 with 11 seconds remaining in the game.
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Lycoming missed a game-tying three-point attempt on its next possession and
Jane Joyce made 1-of-2 free throws following an intentional foul.
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Harris had a brilliant game for the Lions as she finished the game 14-of-18 from the floor and also added 12 rebounds, two blocked shots, a steal and an assist. The double-double was the fifth of the season and the 45th in her career.
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Albright, which improved to 13-2 overall and 5-1 in conference play, also received 11 points from Mazzarelli. Joyce added nine points, five rebounds and five assists, while
Emily O'Donnell scored five points and grabbed six rebounds off the bench.
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Lycoming, which dropped to 9-6 overall and 4-3 in league play, was led by Shelby Mueller who had 20 points and eight rebounds. Nicole Calella added 13 points and Manges finished with 10 points.
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Harris dominated the first half as she had 24 points and eight rebounds as Albright took a 32-23 lead into the intermission.
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The Lions used a late run to pull away from Lycoming.
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Harris scored six consecutive points to give Albright a 24-16 lead with 4:21 to play in the second quarter.
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A three-point play by Henderson cut the Albright lead to 24-19 before Joyce answered with a short jumper giving the Lions a 26-21 lead with 2:15 remaining in the quarter.
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Henderson connected on two free throws to trim the lead to 26-23, but Harris reeled off six consecutive points giving the Lions a 32-23 lead at the break.
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Lycoming cut the Albright lead to three points on three occasions in the third quarter before the Lions stretched out the lead.
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A basket from
Alysha Lofton and two Mazzarelli free throws increased the Albright margin to 40-33 with 6:16 to play in the third quarter.
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Calella responded with a layup, but Mazzarelli connected on a three-pointer to push the Albright lead to 45-37 with 4:32 remaining in the quarter.
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Albright took its largest lead of the game at 49-39 with 25 seconds to play in the third when Lofton scored back-to-back baskets.
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Mueller converted a three-point play with three seconds remaining to cut the Lions lead to 49-42 after three quarters of play.
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Devan Horka gave Albright a 51-42 lead when she opened the second half with a layup, but Lycoming responded with a 9-0 run to tie the game at 51-51 with 6:31 remaining in the game.
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Joyce put Albright back in front with a jumper and O'Donnell made 1-of-2 free throws giving the Lions a 54-51 lead with 5:46 to play in the contest.
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Following a layup by Calella, which cut the Albright lead to 56-55, Albright responded with a layup from Harris and two free throws by Horka to take a 60-55 lead with 1:39 to play.
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Albright returns to the court on Saturday (Jan. 16) when it visits Arcadia in a MAC Commonwealth game beginning at 1 p.m.