Strong stretch run lifts Albion past MIAA rival

Strong stretch run lifts Albion past MIAA rival

ALBION, Mich. – Albion College scored on every possession in the final 2:38 to outlast Saint Mary's College, 67-60, in a Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association women's basketball game at Kresge Gymnasium Wednesday night.

Evelyn Wischmeyer knocked down a 3-point basket and Emily Bernas and Rain Hinton tacked on jumpers in the lane. Wischmeyer, Sam Carter and Brittany Leutz combined to go 9-of-10 from the free throw line in the final 44 seconds.

Saint Mary's (2-6 overall, 0-2 MIAA) lost its sixth straight, but it did not look like a team in the midst of a losing streak. The Belles never let Albion get comfortable on the offensive end.

"It came down to players hitting shots when we needed them to," Albion Head Coach Doreen Carden said after her team improved to 7-1 overall and 2-0 against MIAA rivals. "It was good to see the kids stepped up down the stretch. I don't think we did anything different. Maybe we got the ball to certain people we needed to."

Albion built seven-point leads in the first and second quarters, but it never was able to pull away.

Hinton scored a layup and two free throws as Albion forged a 17-10 lead late in the first quarter. The Britons settled for a 20-16 lead at the end of the first.

Saint Mary's tied the score at 20 in the second quarter, but Albion scored the next seven. Wischmeyer hit a 3-point basket and Carter and Bernas followed with layups. Albion went on to hold a 32-26 lead at halftime.

Albion scored 10 points in the third, but it still led 42-38.

The score was tied four times and the lead changed twice in the fourth quarter.

Wischmeyer hit 4-of-6 shots from 3-point range to finish with 16 points. Hinton fell a rebound shy of a double-double, contributing 14 points and nine rebounds. Carter, who was 6-of-8 from the free throw line, scored in double figures for the fourth time this season with 10 points.

Jami Hubbard led Albion with 12 rebounds.

Bella Dugas produced 16 points and seven rebounds for Saint Mary's.

Albion will play its next two MIAA games on the road, starting with a Saturday date at Hope College.

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