TRUJILLO ALTO, P.R. – The Albright women's basketball team returned to action Wednesday with a 72-68 victory over Rowan in Puerto Rico. The Lions had five players score in double figures. Alysha Lofton had 16 points and 17 rebounds for her third double-double of the season.

The Lions had a 10-point lead with 3:22 to play in the fourth after a Shannon Thomas three pointer made it 66-56. Rowan chipped away at the lead and had it down to 68-66 after a three-point play by Alex Raring with 1:21 left. Albright came through at the free throw line in the final possessions to maintain its lead. After the three-point play, Nina Mazzarelli made a pair of free throws to make it 70-66 with 1:10 left. Rowan again cut the lead to two at 70-68 with 20 seconds to play, but Jane Joyce made both of her free throws with nine seconds left to seal the 72-68 win.

Lofton recorded a double-double in the first half with 14 points and 10 rebounds as the Lions took a 37-25 lead into halftime. Albright took the lead thanks to a 15-2 run in the first quarter that turned an 8-4 Rowan lead into a 19-10 Albright advantage. Thomas scored five points on that run on her way to a team-high 18 points for the game. Devan Horka capped the run with a layup to make it 19-10 with 2:55 left in the quarter. She finished with 10 points.

After leading 21-15 at the end of the first, Albright outscored Rowan again in the second quarter to carry a double-digit lead at halftime.

Mazzarelli had 10 points in the winning effort. MiKayla Lea was the fourth Lion to reach double digits, finishing with 12 points. Eight of her 12 came in the second half. Lea and Joyce each had five rebounds.

Albright continues its Puerto Rico tour tomorrow with a matchup against Denison.