Both teams struggled offensively at the outset, as Albright led just 4-3 six minutes in to the contest. The Lady Lions stretched the lead to 8-3, and would eventually lead 16-9 after a pair of Natalie Bizzarro free throws with 8:33 to play in the half. After a Widener basket cut the lead to five, Meredith Berger converted a three-point play to give Albright its largest lead of the night, 19-11, with 5:25 left in the half. Widener responded with a 12-2 run, however, tying the score at 21 2:38 before the break. The teams traded baskets over the final two minutes, and went to the locker room with the score knotted at 23.
As hard as points were to come by in the first half, both teams came out firing in the second period, each scoring 13 points in the first 3:36 of the half as the score remained tied at 36. Widener used a 10-3 run to pull out to its largest lead of the game, 46-39, with 11:35 remaining, and looked ready to put the game away. Albright fought back, however, getting six straight points, capped by a three from Annie McMahon, to cut the lead to one, 46-45, with just under nine minutes to play. Another McMahon three five minutes later pulled the Lady Lions even at 52, but Albright could not get over the hump. The Pride stretched the lead out to five, 58-53, with 30 seconds left, but once again, Albright was not done. Bizzarro scored on a lay-up, but Rayne Reber answered with two more free throws for Widener. Marie Levins then drained a long three with 11 seconds on the clock to get the Lady Lions within two, 60-58. When Beth Dessart-Mager missed the front end of a one-and-one Albright had a chance to tie or win with a three, but the Lady Lions could not get off a shot as time expired with the Pride escaping with the two-point win.
McMahon was the only Lady Lion to reach double figures, as she finished with 14 points. Levins and Jackie Hardwick each had eight points for Albright, with Hardwick grabbing a team-high nine rebounds. Kelley Guarrera led Widener with 18 points on 9-14 shooting from the floor, while Reber added 14 points for the Pride.
Newspaper Box Score Widener vs Albright 2/7/07 6:00 pm at Bollman Center - Reading, PA At Bollman Center - Reading, PA WIDENER 60, ALBRIGHT 58 WIDENER (9-13, 3-8 Comm.) Guarrera, Kelley 9-14 0-0 18; Reber, Rayne 3-7 6-6 14; Sipple, Megan 2-5 3-4 8; Bixby, Stephanie 4-7 0-0 8; Isler, Lindsey 2-3 0-0 5; Dessart Mager, Beth 1-9 1-5 3; Dunston, Quisha 1-2 0-0 2; Tyler, Becky 1-7 0-2 2; Fleming, Barbara 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-55 10-17 60. ALBRIGHT (15-7, 8-3 Comm.) Annie McMahon 5-13 1-2 14; Jaqueline Hardwick 2-14 3-6 8; Marie Levins 3-7 1-2 8; Meredith Berger 3-4 1-1 7; Natalie Bizzarro 2-5 3-4 7; Mallory Olsheski 2-8 1-2 5; Charlotte Ciccone 2-6 0-0 4; Staci Waligorski 2-4 0-0 4; Jen DuPrau 0-3 1-2 1; Casey Slack 0-0 0-0 0; Amanda Medoro 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 21-65 11-19 58. Widener....................... 23 37 - 60 Albright...................... 23 35 - 58 3-point goals-Widener 4-12 (Reber, Rayne 2-2; Sipple, Megan 1-4; Isler, Lindsey 1-2; Tyler, Becky 0-2; Dessart Mager, Beth 0-2), Albright 5-15 (Annie McMahon 3-7; Marie Levins 1-2; Jaqueline Hardwick 1-1; Mallory Olsheski 0-4; Natalie Bizzarro 0-1). Fouled out--Widener-None, Albright-None. Rebounds-Widener 34 (Reber, Rayne 8), Albright 48 (Jaqueline Hardwick 9). Assists-Widener 11 (Tyler, Becky 5), Albright 11 (Natalie Bizzarro 4). Total fouls-Widener 14, Albright 15. A-271