Fornetti established a career scoring high for the second consecutive game. Her 31 points against Alma bettered the 19 she put up in the Britons’ 55-50 win over Wittenberg University Dec. 30.
The score was tied at 36 at halftime, but Fornetti exploded for 26 points in the second half. She was 5-of-6 from the field and 15-of-15 from the line in the final 20 minutes.
Alma took its only lead of the second half when Ashley Borcherding knocked down a three-point field goal to give the Scots a 39-38 lead with 18 minutes remaining.
Fornetti then carried Albion on her shoulders, scoring the next eight points of the game to give the Britons the lead they would never relinquish. She scored on a three-point field goal, an old fashioned three-point play with a layup and free throw, and a jumper.
Albion boosted the lead to double figures when sophomore guard Megan Garvey connected from long distance to put the Britons in front 64-53 with eight minutes remaining. Albion led by as many as 14, 78-64, on an old-fashioned three-point play by senior forward Liz Marcuz with 4 ½ minutes remaining.
Alma made one last run, trimming the Albion lead to four (82-78 and 84-80) on two occasions in the final minute of the contest. Fornetti made four free throws inside the final 23 seconds to hold off the Scots.
Albion connected on 58 percent (14-of-24) of its shots from the field and on 77 percent (23-of-30) of its attempts from the free throw line in the second half. Junior guard Jessica Babcock and senior guard Kellyn Glynn contributed 15 and 14 points, respectively, for the Britons. Sophomore forward Kati Till gave the Britons 13 quality minutes off the bench and she fished with a career-high eight points. First-year forward Lia Cronenwett, making the first start of her collegiate career in place of the injured Katie Elder, contributed eight points, four rebounds, and three assists.
Katey Peacock posted a double-double of 27 points and 11 rebounds to lead Alma (5-5 overall, 0-3 MIAA).
Albion (9-3 overall, 2-2 MIAA) continues league play at home Thursday night when Calvin College visits Kresge Gymnasium.
ALMA COLLEGE (5-5, 0-3 MIAA) Katey Peacock 10-14 2-2 27; Darcie Philp 7-12 4-6 18; Ashley Borcherding 6-11 1-2 18; Heather Keenan 3-4 0-3 6; Erica Philp 1-2 2-3 4; Ashley Matuzak 2-3 0-0 4; Emily Niemi 1-2 1-3 3; Abigail Way 1-2 0-0 2; Jenny Falkenberg 0-2 0-0 0. Totals 31-52 10-19 82. ALBION COLLEGE (9-3, 2-2 MIAA) Jaime Fornetti 6-9 17-17 31; Jessica Babcock 5-11 1-2 15; Kellyn Glynn 4-10 3-4 14; Kati Till 2-4 4-6 8; Lia Cronenwett 4-6 0-1 8; Emi Guimond 1-3 4-4 6; Liz Marcuz 1-2 1-1 3; Megan Seely 1-5 1-4 3; Megan Garvey 1-3 0-0 2; Blair Meyer 0-1 0-0 0; Stacey Smith 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 25-55 31-39 90. Alma College.................. 36 46 - 82 Albion College................ 36 54 - 90 3-point goals-Alma College 10-19 (Katey Peacock 5-6; Ashley Borcherding 5-10; Ashley Matuzak 0-1; Jenny Falkenberg 0-2), Albion College 9-18 (Jessica Babcock 4-6; Kellyn Glynn 3-5; Jaime Fornetti 2-4; Megan Seely 0-2; Megan Garvey 0-1). Fouled out--Alma College-Ashley Matuzak, Albion College-Liz Marcuz. Rebounds-Alma College 32 (Darcie Philp 6; Katey Peacock 6), Albion College 27 (Kellyn Glynn 5; Jaime Fornetti 5; Jessica Babcock 5). Assists-Alma College 26 (Katey Peacock 11), Albion College 16 (Kellyn Glynn 4). Total fouls-Alma College 29, Albion College 20. A-132