Albion, which earned its 24th victory of the season to better last year’s 23-win total, will meet Calvin College in the title game at Kresge Gymnasium Saturday afternoon. The tip is set for 3 p.m. Calvin defeated Albion twice during the regular season, winning a 74-60 decision at Kresge Jan. 19, and a 49-45 contest at the Calvin Fieldhouse Feb. 16.
“Playing for the MIAA Tournament championship at home is huge for our program, and it shows we’ve come a long way and that we are trying to build something big here,” Albion fourth-year head coach Doreen Belkowski said. “It’s what we’ve worked for all year, to win the MIAA and have home court advantage for the final.”
The Britons shook off a slow start, misfiring on eight of the first nine shots from the field. Alma claimed its largest lead of the night when Erica Philp converted two free throws to give the Scots a 6-2 lead 4 ½ minutes into the contest.
Albion found its rhythm on offense, scoring on three of its next five possessions to claim a lead it would not relinquish. Senior guard Vanessa Thompson and sophomore guard Jessica Babcock knocked down three-point goals, and junior forward Liz Marcuz added a layup to put the Britons in front, 10-6, with 11:26 remaining in the first half.
The Briton offense revved into first gear with a 17-2 run over a five-minute span in which the margin ballooned to 17, 27-10, with 5:19 on the clock. Junior guard Jaime Fornetti was the only Albion player to score two baskets during the rally, scoring five points on a jumper and a three-point goal.
Albion took a 37-24 lead to the locker room at halftime.
Albion led by 19 when sophomore forward Ruthie Sventickas made a pair of free throws with 11 minutes remaining. The Britons still maintained a double-digit lead, 62-52, when senior guard Sarah Caskey scored a three-point goal with 4 ½ minutes left in regulation.
Alma would not go down quietly, however, as the Scots went on an 8-2 run in three minutes to trim the deficit to four with a minute left. Philp ignited the Alma rally with an old-fashioned three-point play, followed by baskets by Michelle Dettling and Mindy VanDamme.
Albion salted away the victory in the final minute with a basket and two free throws by Sventickas, four free throws by Caskey, and a free throw by Thompson.
Sventickas led all players with 18 points on 7 of 12 shooting from the floor. Caskey added 13 points and Marcuz posted 10 points and 10 rebounds for her second double-double of the season.
Katey Peacock led Alma (13-11 overall) with 17 points. VanDamme and Darcie Philp added 10 points apiece.
ALMA COLLEGE (13-11) Katey Peacock 6-18 4-4 17; Darcie Philp 5-8 0-0 10; Mindy VanDamme 3-7 1-2 10; Ashley Borcherding 3-5 0-0 8; Erica Philp 2-3 3-4 7; Ashley Matuzak 2-3 0-0 5; Michelle Dettling 2-5 0-0 4; Rondi Lounds 1-7 0-0 2; Jesse Roston 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-56 8-10 63. ALBION COLLEGE (24-3) Ruth Sventickas 7-12 4-4 18; Sarah Caskey 4-10 4-6 13; Liz Marcuz 3-5 4-5 10; Jessica Babcock 3-9 1-1 9; Jaime Fornetti 3-10 1-2 8; Vanessa Thompson 2-6 1-2 7; Kellyn Glynn 2-2 0-0 6; Blair Meyer 1-4 0-0 2; Katie Elder 0-0 0-0 0; Emi Guimond 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 25-58 15-20 73. Alma College.................. 24 39 - 63 Albion College................ 37 36 - 73 3-point goals-Alma College 7-17 (Mindy VanDamme 3-7; Ashley Borcherding 2-2; Ashley Matuzak 1-1; Katey Peacock 1-4; Rondi Lounds 0-2; Michelle Dettling 0-1), Albion College 8-19 (Kellyn Glynn 2-2; Jessica Babcock 2-6; Vanessa Thompson 2-4; Sarah Caskey 1-4; Jaime Fornetti 1-2; Ruth Sventickas 0-1). Fouled out--Alma College-Michelle Dettling, Albion College-None. Rebounds-Alma College 29 (Michelle Dettling 6), Albion College 39 (Liz Marcuz 10). Assists-Alma College 16 (Katey Peacock 5), Albion College 21 (Vanessa Thompson 7). Total fouls-Alma College 21, Albion College 11. A-237