READING, Pa. (Dec. 7, 2016) – Junior
Allison Gallagher (Souderton, Pa.) scored 21 points and keyed a comeback effort in the second half, but it wasn't enough, as the Widener University women's basketball team was outlasted by nationally-ranked Albright on Wednesday evening at the Bollman Center.
Facing a double-digit deficit midway through the third quarter, Widener stormed back and tied the game at 71 when sophomore
Tasjah Davis (Hebron, Md.) stole the ball and found Gallagher for one of her five 3-pointers in the game with 1:36 left on the clock. The Pride had the opportunity to regain the lead for the first time since holding a 20-19 advantage in the second, but freshman
Devan Rimmer's (Perkasie, Pa.) shot from long range rimmed out.
Jane Joyce then sank a jumper on the other end, and Widener was forced to foul in the waning seconds before eventually coming up just short in their second game against a nationally-ranked opponent this season. Alysha Lofton converted three of the team's five free throws down the stretch to put the game on ice.
The teams played a back-and-forth opening quarter with eight lead changes and two ties. Widener freshman
Madison Ireland (Garnet Valley, Pa.) opened the scoring by sinking a trey, but Lofton answered on the other end from beyond the arc and Joyce turned a steal into a good layup to put the Lions ahead for the first time. Another trifecta by Ireland helped give the Pride a 17-13 edge at the first break.
Albright (6-1, MAC Commonwealth 3-0), however, responded by outscoring the visitors by a count of 21-10 in the second quarter and never looked back. Nina Mazzarelli tied the game at 17s with a 3-pointer and then hit another shot from long range to make it 22-20 and give the Lions a lead they would never surrender the rest of the way. A valiant comeback effort by Widener, which trailed by eight at halftime, would come up just short.
The Lions were paced by Devan Horka and Lofton. Horka netted 21 points, while Lofton finished with a double-double by contributing 16 points and 16 rebounds. Mazzarelli also had a strong game by scoring 16 points and grabbing five boards.
Gallagher led Widener with 21 points and hot shooting by hitting seven of her 13 shots from the field, including all five attempts from long range, and converting both of her free throws. She also corralled five rebounds and registered three steals. Rimmer and Ireland added 13 and 12 points, respectively, and dished out six assists apiece.
Widener (2-5, MAC Commonwealth 0-3) will look to notch its first conference win of the season when it entertains Lycoming on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 1 p.m.
