READING, Pa. – First-year Mackenzie Dover knocked down the game-winning free throws with less than a second remaining to give the No. 5 Albright women's basketball team a 66-65 victory at No. 4 Stevenson on Wednesday. The win sends Albright to the semifinal round of the MAC Commonwealth tournament.
 
With the win, the Lions advance to 13-10 overall and will travel to No. 1 Messiah on Friday for the semifinal round. Meanwhile, Stevenson concludes the 2021-22 season 8-8 and the No. 4 seed in the MAC Commonwealth and 11-13 overall.
 
Four Lions reached double figure scoring in the all-out team win. Senior Gabby Boggs added her 17th double-double of the season with 17 points on 7-for-14 shooting, 13 rebounds, four assists, and four blocks. Senior Brady Wassel posted her seventh double-double of the season with ten points behind 5-for-14 shooting, 15 rebounds, three assists, and two steals. Senior Amina Rauf notched 14 points on 4-for-16 shooting from the floor while Dover netted 13 points on 5-for-10 shooting. Senior Abby Gaffney totaled a game-high six assists, six points, five rebounds, and two steals.
 
The two teams traded baskets to open up the game until Stevenson began to pull ahead 15-9 at the 4:22-mark. Boggs then earned an and-one followed by a basket from Rauf to get Albright within one. Stevenson closed out the first on a 6-2 run to grasp a 21-16 lead at the end of the opening quarter. The Mustangs kept the momentum, jumping out with another 6-2 run in the second frame to take a nine-point lead. Dover notched the next nine points for Albright to fuel a 9-2 run and cut their deficit to 29-27 at the 5:48-mark. Stevenson stayed in front with a basket, but Junior Lindsey Williamson responded with a three-pointer that sparked seven unanswered points for the Lions as they closed out the first half with a 34-31 lead.
 
It was a back-and forth battle to open the second half as the teams exchanged leads. Boggs added a bucket at the 5:53-mark that tied the game at 38, but Stevenson jumped back in front with back-to-back baskets. The Lions tied the game back up at 45 following a 7-2 run capped with a three from Rauf.  The Mustangs used a 3-2 advantage to close the third to hold onto a 48-47 lead. Boggs put Albright ahead with the first basket of the final quarter. The lead switched twice more until Stevenson used a 10-3 run to pull ahead 60-54 with 4:30 left to play. Albright chipped away at their deficit after netting six-straight points, capped with a basket from Boggs to get the Lions within one with less than a minute remaining. Stevenson shaved time off the clock, but Albright got the ball back with 11 seconds left. The Mustangs used their last three personal fouls before sending Dover to the line in the final second of the game. The first-year hit both free throws with confidence to claim the 66-65 victory and send the Lions to the semifinals.
 
Albright shot 26-for-61 (42.6%) from the floor, 5-for-19 (26.3%) from beyond the arc, and 9-for-12 (75.0%) from the charity stripe. The Lions notched 30 points in the paint, saw 19 points off their bench, and held a slight 40-37 advantage on the glass. Meanwhile, Stevenson shot 26-for-64 (40.6%) from the field, 5-for-17 (29.4%) from three-point range, and 8-for-12 (66.7%) from the free throw line.
 
Albright will continue their postseason run as they travel to No. 1 Messiah on Friday. Time is to be determined.