OLIVET, Mich. – Hazardous road conditions caused by drifting snow delayed Albion College's arrival at the Cutler Event Center Wednesday night.
Therefore, it was only appropriate for the Britons to blow Olivet College away early. Albion stormed to a 21-8 lead at the end of the first quarter and coasted to a 77-49 victory over their Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association rival.
The victory moves Albion to 6-2 overall and 2-1 against MIAA rivals. The Britons have a week to prepare for their trip to Holland, Mich., for a league game against the nationally ranked team from Hope College.
"We were making shots and it's easier to win games that way," Albion Head Coach Doreen Carden said. "We had some good spurts, and overall I think we played well. We kept our composure and played strong despite everything that happened on the way here."
Shooting 53 percent from the field in the first quarter, Albion scored the first 10 points of the game and it maintained a double digit lead for most of the night.
Erin Nelson scored 12 of her season-high 16 points in the first half, and Emily Bernas, who matched her career high 18 points, produced 13 in the second half. Nelson hit 6-of-7 shots from the field and all four of her attempts from the line. Bernas knocked down 8-of-16 shots from the field.
Nelson and Bernas pulled down seven rebounds apiece.
Olivia Savage produced a season high five 3-point field goals to finish with 15 points, two shy of her season high.
The Britons received a boost from the reserves, with Brittany Leutz collecting nine points, three rebounds and two assists in 17 minutes and Mackenzie Fairbanks adding six points, two rebounds and two assists in 10 minutes.
Jazmin Hildebrand led Olivet with 17 points. Ayren Parrish and Jillian Nickels added 14 and 10, respectively.
