ALBION, Mich. – Its 13-point lead had been whittled down to two, but Albion College didn't panic. Instead, it went back to basics to get three baskets in the lane as part of an 8-0 run that proved to be the difference as Albion edged Dominican (Ill.) University 70-62 in non-league women's basketball action Tuesday night.
It was the first win of the season for an Albion team that lost by five to Marietta (Ohio) College and by four in overtime to Heidelberg (Ohio) University last weekend.
"We learned to finish a game and how to find a way to win," Albion Coach Doreen Carden said. "We played smarter by taking quality shots (during the 8-0 run)."
Leading 33-24 at halftime, Albion extended the margin to 13 when Darian Payne and Taylor Nugent scored on consecutive possessions early in the second half.
Siri Borrud canned a pair of three-point shots and Stacy Reynolds added a pair of layups as Dominican ripped off a 10-0 run to trim the margin to a single point, 43-42, with 12 minutes left.
Albion never surrendered the lead and it led 55-47 when Tanner Johnson buried a jumper with 7 ½ minutes left.
Reynolds' three-point goal capped Dominican's final charge as it pulled the Stars within two, 57-55, with five minutes to play. Reynolds led the Stars with 16 points.
Katie Thompson, Brett de Bear, and Tanner Johnson scored on consecutive possessions to ignite Albion's decisive rally. Payne added a pair of free throws as Albion extended the lead to 65-55 with 2:18 left.
Thompson, a first-year forward, scored on 6-of-9 shots from the field to finish with a game-high 17 points. de Bear and Johnson added 15 and 12, respectively.
It will be a short Thanksgiving break for Albion as it will travel to Notre Dame, Ind., for weekend contests against Ohio Northern University and Otterbein (Ohio) University.
