READING, Pa. – The Albright women's basketball team found itself in a tie game at halftime on Saturday against Stevenson, but the Lions displayed its ability to leave opponents behind with a powerful performance in the third quarter. In that third period, Albright shot 81.8 percent (9-for-11) while making five free throws to outscore Stevenson, 24-11. That turned a 31-31 halftime tie into a 55-42 lead after the third quarter. Albright cruised to a 75-58 victory over the Mustangs.
Less than four minutes into the third quarter, Albright had 17 points and held a 48-36 lead.
Nina Mazzarelli had a four-point play to make it 39-33 with 8:19 left in the period. After Stevenson countered with a three pointer, Albright raced out on a 9-0 run that included five points from
Devan Horka. Her three-point play with 6:15 left put Albright ahead, 48-36. She finished with a team-high 20 points.
Stevenson came back with six straight pointers to cut the lead in half to 48-42, but the Lions again came back with seven straight points to finish the quarter ahead, 55-42. Mazzarelli scored 10 of her 18 points in the third quarter.
The 13-point lead that Albright carried into the fourth quarter would be as close as the game would be for the duration. Horka turned the seven straight points to finish the third quarter into a 10-0 run with the final three points of the run. She made a free throw to cap the run on a possession that saw the Lions grab two offensive rebounds. Horka and
Alysha Lofton led Albright with eight rebounds each.
MiKayla Lea scored six of her 13 points in the fourth quarter as Albright pushed its lead as high as 22 points on her layup with 2:42 to play.
Jane Joyce had nine points, five rebounds, six assists and six steals.
After shooting 81.8 percent in the third quarter, Albright followed that with a 69.2 percent mark in the fourth quarter. The Lions made 18 of its 24 shots in the second half for a 75 percent mark from the field.
Albright (16-4, 11-0) looks to stay perfect in MAC Commonwealth play at Hood on Wednesday night at 6 p.m.
