ALBION, Mich. – Albion College tried to build a big lead and run away from Alma College in Michigan Intercollegiate Athletic Association women's basketball action Wednesday night, but the Scots kept coming back. Albion used a 14-5 run over the final 2:49 to earn a 74-61 victory.

Patty Rewa and Nicole Dennis combined to score 11 points as Albion opened up a 44-35 lead 4 ½ minutes into the second half. Albion kept the margin as nine as Lauren Epple hit her third 3-point basket with 13:44 to play.

Epple was the only Briton to score as Alma ripped off a 10-2 run to trim the margin to a single point. Danielle Hicks hit four free throws to start the Alma rally and Bailey Gooding scored three points on a basket and free throw. Alma trailed 49-48 on Sarah Stinson's layup with 9 ½ minutes left.

Albion was able to protect the lead as a 3-point basket by Taylor Nugent and a pair of free throws from Rewa boosted the margin to 58-51 with five minutes to play.

Albion was 9-of-10 from the line in the final 41 seconds.

Rewa finished with 23 points to become the seventh Albion women's basketball player to reach the 1,000-point milestone. Epple matched her career-high with 16 and Dennis produced 11.

Alma placed three players in double figures. Mallory Pruett produced a pair of 3-point baskets and seven free throws to reach a season-high 17 points. Hicks and Rachel Jaksa finished with 14 and 12, respectively.

Albion (14-7 overall, 9-4 MIAA) travels to Angola, Ind., Saturday for its second meeting of the season with Trine University.