Box Score READING, Pa. – Despite a career-high 23 points by sophomore Kaitlyn VanTash, a fourth-quarter rally by the Stevenson University women's basketball team fell short as No. 10/12 Albright dealt the Mustangs a 64-60 setback at the Bollman Center Saturday afternoon.
VanTash was the lone player to finish in double figures for Stevenson (12-9, 9-5 MAC Commonwealth) as she went 8-11 from the floor and 7-7 at the free throw line. Freshman Armani Duckett-Mooney, making her first career start, totaled eight points, while junior Sara Tarbert finished with eight points and 10 rebounds, snapping a string of 19 straight games in double figures in the scoring column.
Albright (22-2, 14-1 MAC Commonwealth) won its 10th straight game. The Lions were led by Kelecia Harris with 17 points and 14 rebounds.
Stevenson trailed 49-36 with just over three minutes to go in the third quarter but outscored Albright 9-3 the rest of the frame to cut the lead to seven, 52-45, at the end of the third. The Mustangs extended the run to 14-3, scoring the first five points of the fourth quarter to pull within 52-50 at the 8:24 mark on a VanTash basket. VanTash had the first five points of the fourth for Stevenson.
The Lions scored the next six points to make it a 58-50 game with 6:19 left before the Mustangs scored the next four, with a basket by Jonyae Curry making it 58-54 with just over five minutes left.
VanTash made it a one-possession game with 1:49 left with a layup to make it 60-58, and following an empty Albright trip down the floor, the Mustangs had a chance to tie or take the lead for the first time in the second half. VanTash and Tarbert both missed before a jump ball on Tarbert's miss with Tarbert and Alysha Lofton gave the ball back to Albright.
With 14 seconds left, Nina Mazzarelli drilled a three-pointer to give the hosts a 63-58 lead. Senior Caitlin Roy scored on a putback with five seconds left to again make it a one-possession game, but Harris was fouled and made 1-of-2 at the line to seal the victory.
The lead changed hands four times in the opening quarter. Stevenson opened up a 9-4 advantage 3:22 into the game before six straight points by the Lions gave them a 10-9 lead with 4:38 left in the frame. From there, the lead changed hands three times, and a basket by Duckett-Mooney gave the Mustangs a 14-13 lead after one.
The lead changed hands four more times in the second quarter before the Lions took control late. An Imani Sanders layup with 4:59 to go before intermission gave Stevenson a 25-24 lead, but Albright closed out the first half on an 11-0 run and took a 35-25 lead into the locker room.
The Lions extended the run to 15-0 after intermission, extending their lead to 39-25 two minutes into the third frame. Albright took its largest lead, 45-29, with 4:51 left in the third on a Harris basket.
Albright shot 43.6% for the game while limiting Stevenson to 35.3% shooting, and went 5-12 behind the arc while the Mustangs were 2-13 from long range. Albright outrebounded the guests 48-34, but was haunted by 23 turnovers, while Stevenson matched a season-low by committing just 10 giveaways.
Stevenson returns to action Tuesday night when it travels to Hood College for a 6:00 MAC Commonwealth contest.
