CINCINNATI, Ohio – Albion College shot 28 percent from the field and it made three baskets in the final six minutes in a 53-47 loss to Marietta (Ohio) College on the opening night of the Mount Saint Joseph Tip-Off Classic.
Albion whittled a 10-point first half deficit down to a single point by halftime, and it led briefly early in the second half.
Marietta led 20-10 when Emily Jones scored with a shade less than eight minutes left in the first half. Albion closed the half on a 15-6 run to trail 26-25 at the half. Darian Payne, a first-year forward, scored seven of her 10 points late in the first half.
Payne scored again as Albion seized a 29-26 lead in the first minute of the second half.
Marietta led by as many as seven in the second half.
Brett de Bear also scored 10 points to join Payne in double figures.
Albion will complete the opening weekend of the season Saturday when it challenges Heidelberg (Ohio) University.