Albright Women Open Season With Victory

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The Albright College women's basketball team opened its 2013-14 season with a win, pulling away early in the second half to beat the College of St. Elizabeth 83-60 on Friday.

Sophomore Kelecia Harris shot 8-of-11 from the field and finished with a double-double (17 points, 13 rebounds). Freshman Shannon Thomas shot 80%, scoring 13 points on 4-of-5 shooting (3-of-4 from behind the arc) in her first collegiate game.

Senior point guard Kristi McFadden (six points, five rebounds, five assists in 29 minutes) was the only Lion to play more than 23 minutes. 11 squad members scored in an all-around team effort.

Albright shot 54.4% as a team (31-of-57), including 59.4% in the first half.

The Lions led 46-30 at the break, before going on a 23-8 run to open up the second period.

Harris hit three straight buckets, and senior Meghan Boyle finished off a lay-in to make it 54-32. Boyle soon added four consecutive free throws for a 59-36 lead.

Freshman Kadijah Bishop sank a jumper, and then was fouled the next time down the floor after chasing down an offensive rebound. She hit both free throws for a 63-38 scorelines.

Harris added two jumpers before Thomas was fouled after a steal, with the freshman hitting both freebies to push the gap to 69-38.

The Lions (1-0) advance to the championship game of the Lady Cyclone Tip-Off Tournament, and will face host Centenary at 3 p.m. Centenary is coached by former Albright assistant Rachel Weidensaul.