Harris Hits Layup at Buzzer Leading Albright Past Lebanon Valley

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READING, Pa. -- Junior Kelecia Harris converted a layup as the buzzer sounded leading the Albright women's basketball team to a 75-73 Commonwealth Conference victory over Lebanon Valley on Saturday in the Bollman Center.

Lebanon Valley's Bridget Rothert made two free throws with 11.7 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the game at 73-73. Following an Albright timeout, freshman Jane Joyce attempted a jumper from the top of the key but it was blocked by Lexie Lantz. Joyce retrieved the rebound and hoisted up another shot, which was off the mark but Harris grabbed the errant attempt and scored as the buzzer sounded sending the Lions to their third consecutive victory.

Harris finished with her sixth double-double of the season with 23 points and 11 rebounds. She was 10-of-17 from the floor and 3-of-7 from the free-throw line to lead Albright to its second consecutive conference win in as many games.

Albright, which improved to 5-2 overall and 2-0 in the Commonwealth, also received 16 points and seven rebounds from Emily O'Donnell. Joyce notched her first career double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds and Shannon Thomas added 13 points. Kadijah Bishop had four points and nine rebounds for the Lions.

Lebanon Valley, which dropped to 6-2 overall and 1-2 in the Commonwealth, was led by Rothert who scored a game-high 27 points. Lantz added 14 points and Taylor Umbrell scored 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds.

Albright overcame a sluggish start to post the victory.

A three-pointer by Rothert gave the Dutchmen a 13-4 lead with 16:07 to play in the opening half. Albright answered with three-point play by Harris to cut the lead to 13-7, but Rothert drilled another three-pointer to push the lead to 16-7 with 14:51 remaining in the first period.

A three-pointer by Rothert jump started a 7-0 run by Lebanon Valley, which gave the Dutchmen their largest lead of the game at 25-10 with 11:08 to play.

Thomas ended the run with a three-pointer for the Lions and, following a basket by Lantz, Albright ripped off a 7-0 run that closed the lead to 27-20 with 9:09 to play in the opening period.

Four points from Rothert extended the LVC lead to 31-20 at the 8:30 mark of the opening period.

After another three-pointer by Rothert gave the Dutchmen a 36-25 lead Albright responded with an 8-2 run that cut the margin to 38-33 with 5:28 to play.

A layup by Peyton Carper upped the lead to 40-33, but Albright scored seven straight points to tie the game at 40-40 with 2:22 left in the first.

LVC closed the first half by scoring the final three points to take a 43-40 lead into the intermission.

Albright took its first lead of the game midway through the second half when O'Donnell scored inside giving the Lions a 50-48 lead with 13:48 to play in the game.

After a free throw by Alyssa Cirucci tied the game at 54-54, Albright answered with an 8-0 run to take a 62-54 lead with 7:30 remaining in the game.

A Jessica Venturelli layup gave the Lions a 66-58 lead with 5:50 to play, but Lebanon Valley rallied with a 9-1 run which tied the game at 67-67 with 3:31 to play.

Back-to-back baskets by O'Donnell, sandwiched around a basket by Lantz put Albright ahead 71-69 with 2:14 left in the game.

Joyce extended the Albright lead to 73-69 with a jumper, but a basket by Rothert and the two free throws by Rothert tied the game setting the stage for the heroics of Harris.

Albright returns to action on Dec. 14 when it hosts Moravian at 2 p.m. in the Bollman Center.