READING, Pa. – Junior Shelby Mueller (Collegeville, Pa./Spring-Ford) posted 15 points and 12 points for her second straight double-double to lead the Lycoming College women's basketball team, but Albright College used a tough defensive effort and a big first half lead to post a 63-50 MAC Commonwealth win at the Bollman Center on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
 
The Warriors (9-6 overall, 3-4 MAC Commonwealth) had three players finish in double figures, with Mueller leading the team with the double-double, while freshman Akilah McFadden (Lewisburg, Pa./Lewisburg Area) added 15 points, four steals, three assists, three rebounds and a block. Senior Nicole Calella (Sandyston, N.J./Kittatinny Regional) added 12 points, six rebounds, a block and a steal.
 
However, the Warriors shot just 27 percent (16-of-60) in the game, as the defending MAC Commonwealth champion Lions blocked eight shots and held a 48-35 advantage in blocked shots.
 
After Albright opened the third quarter with a 12-4 run in the first six minutes, the Warriors responded with a run of 11 straight points spurred on by five points from McFadden to start the run before a jumper by Calella as time expired on the period send the Warriors into the final 10 minutes down 46-33.
 
The Warriors got the Albright lead down to nine points early in the fourth quarter after a pair of free throws from Mueller with 8:52 left. After a pair of buckets by Albright, the Warriors made it an eight-point game after a 3-pointer from McFadden with 5:48 left.
 
The Lions didn't let Lycoming get any closer, though, scoring six of the next eight points before the Warriors cut the lead back to single digits one last time, at nine points, with 55 seconds left.
 
After a 3-pointer by McFadden put the Warriors ahead 6-5 midway through the first quarter, the Lions scored the next nine points to take a 16-8 lead heading into the second quarter. The Lions continued to expand the lead in the second quarter, using a run of 13 straight points to get a 29-10 advantage with 4:05 left before the Warriors were able to cut the lead down to 15 at the break.
 
Alysha Lofton led the Lions with 17 points, 15 rebounds, five assists, five blocks and three steals and both Devan Horka and Jane Joyce each added 12 points. Joyce also added five assists and MiKayla Lea finished with eight points and four rebounds.
 
The Warriors wrap up the first half of their MAC Commonwealth schedule on Sunday, Jan. 15, when they host Arcadia in an important conference doubleheader, with the women playing at 1 p.m. before the men at 3 p.m.