READING, Pa. – Junior Devan Horka finished with a game-high 21 points as all five Albright starters scored double figures in the no. 20 Lions 78-73 conference victory over Widener Wednesday night in the Bollman Center.

Horka, who also recorded three rebounds and two assists in 32 minutes of action, went 9-of-18 from the floor and was a perfect 3-of-3 from the free throw line to pace the Lions.

Albright, which improved to 6-1 and 3-0 in the MAC Commonwealth, also received 16 points from Nina Mazzarelli as well as Alysha Lofton, who was the only player to record double-digit rebounds with 16. Mazzarelli made four three pointers to lead the Lions from behind the arc. Shannon Thomas added 11 points, while Jane Joyce finished with 10 to help the Lions remain undefeated in conference play.

The Lions trailed after ten minutes for the first time in 19 days as the Pride made four shots from behind the arc to take a 17-14 lead into the second quarter. Allison Gallagher and Madison Ireland, who combined made all of the first quarter's threes, teamed up to score 13 of Widener's 17 points. Gallagher would finish the night with 21 points and 5-of-5 from the arc for the Pride, who dropped to 2-5 and 0-3 in the MACC.

Albright quickly regained control of the game in the second quarter outscoring its opponents 21-10. Mazzarelli knotted the score at 17 after draining a three only 21 seconds into the quarter. After swapping baskets, the Lions went on a 13-5 run to take a 32-24 lead with 2:55 remaining on the clock. Horka stole the show during this run making three layups as well as a free throw to hand Albright an eight-point lead. Thomas would wrap up the Lions first half scoring with a three before Widener scored three points in the final minute to pull within seven at the half.

After missing their first three shots of the third quarter, Lofton aided the Lions by grabbing one of her 12 second half rebounds to continue Albright's offensive play. Eventually, Mazzarelli connected to make a three and put the Lions up by nine with a little over eight minutes remaining. Both teams traded baskets for majority of the third quarter before the Pride slowly chipped away at Albright's lead. Two made free throws from Lofton handed Albright a 52-44 lead with 2:02 remaining. Widener would go on a 9-2 run in the final two minutes to trail by only entering the final quarter.

The score remained 54-53 for almost the first two minutes of the fourth quarter as both teams struggled to record a basket. Albright would break this streak when Mazzarelli sank her final three pointer of the night with 8:07 left on the clock. As Albright attempted to put its lead out of reach, Widener would battle its way back. The teams traded buckets throughout much of the final 10 minutes until a late run capped by a three pointer from Gallagher helped the Pride knot the score at 71. With only a 1:36 remaining in the game, the Lions finished on a 7-2 run. Joyce got things started sinking a jumper to put Albright up with 46 seconds left on the clock. Lofton would drain three free throws and MiKayla Lea made both of her shots from the free throw line to help the Lions seal its sixth win of the season.  

One of the Lions strengths in the team's win was second chance points. 20 of the Lions 78 points were scored on follow-ups, and Albright held a 20-5 advantage over its opponent in this category. The Lions also had a 38-14 edge in points in the paint as well as recorded four points off the fast break.

The season continues for Albright Saturday afternoon when the Lions host non-conference opponent Moravian College at 2 p.m. in the Bollman Center.