READING, Pa. – Sophomore Nicole Calella (Sandyston, N.J./Kittatinny Regional) finished with a career-high 18 points and six steals to lead the Lycoming College women's basketball team, but the team couldn't complete a second-half rally, falling to second-place Commonwealth Conference foe Albright College, 62-54, on Saturday afternoon, Feb. 7, at the Bollman Center.
 
Down by 10 at halftime, the Warriors (14-8 overall, 6-7 Commonwealth) wasted little time getting back into the game, scoring nine straight points to open the second half, with a jumper by senior Ali Derr (New Columbia, Pa./Milton Area) drawing the Warriors within one point at 31-30 with 16:05 left. The Lions (15-6 overall, 9-3 Commonwealth) responded with an 8-3 run to get a two-possession lead back. The Warriors closed within four at 43-39 after a jumper by Calella with 8:40 left.
The Lions again used another 9-1 run to take a 52-40 lead with 3:41 left and the Warriors had to fight back, closing within six after a 3-pointer by senior Janelle Ziminski (Drums, Pa./Hazleton Area) with 2:01 left. The Warriors continued to press, closing within five with 48 seconds left after a layup by Calella, but the Lions hit four free throws in the final moments to close out the win.
 
Albright opened the first half with a 13-4 run in the game's first six minutes before the Warriors scored four in a row with jumpers by junior Victoria Siebecker (Cleona, Pa./Annville-Cleona) and freshman Haley Sipple (Boothwyn, Pa./Chichester). The Lions followed with 10 straight points, though, to take a 23-8 lead with 8:58 left.
 
The Warriors responded with a 13-3 run to close within five points before a 3-pointer by senior Janelle Ziminski (Drums, Pa./Hazleton Area) with 1:14 left helped Lycoming close within five at 26-21. The Lions finished the half with five points, though, to take a 31-21 lead into the break.
 
Calella led the Warriors with 18 points, hitting 7-of-14 from the field, and added six steals, four assists and three rebounds. Freshman Shelby Mueller (Collegeville, Pa./Spring-Ford) led the Warriors in the first half with nine points and she also added four rebounds. Derr added seven points, a block and a steal. Ziminski, junior Chelsea Henderson (Yonkers, N.Y./Yonkers) and Siebecker each added six points.
 
Kelecia Harris led the Lions with 14 points and 14 rebounds and Shannon Thomas also posted 14 points, seven rebounds and two blocks. Jessica Venturelli notched 12 points, three blocks and five rebounds and Emily O'Donnell added 12 points.
 
The Lions outrebounded the Warriors, 45-25, but Lycoming forced Albright into 34 turnovers, which led to 25 of the team's 54 points. The Lions shot 48 percent (21-of-44) from the floor while the Warriors shot 35 percent (20-of-57) on 13 more shots.
 
The Warriors get back on the court with another Commonwealth Conference doubleheader against Arcadia at Lamade Gym on Wednesday, Feb. 11. The women tip at 6 p.m. before the men play at 8 p.m.