BLUFFTON, Ohio – Darian Payne produced her third double-double of the season and Oreyana Curry and Catie Neary achieved career scoring highs as Albion College unwrapped a 80-73 victory over Bluffton in its first game since taking a 10-day break for Christmas.

Payne made two shots and Neary buried a three-point basket as Albion ripped off a seven-point run to extend the lead to 60-51 midway through the second half. Albion led by at least four the rest of the way.

Bluffton trailed 68-64 with four minutes remaining, but Albion repelled the Beavers as Mikaela Bromley knocked down a three-point shot, Erin Nelson made the first of two attempts from the free throw line and Payne tacked on a layup.

"Bluffton was a good team coming in and I knew they were going to be tough," Albion Head Coach Doreen Carden said after her team dropped the Beavers to 6-3 on the year. "I thought their guards were athletic and they have a good post player. I'm proud of our players for stepping up to the challenge."

The first half featured scoring runs by both teams. Albion, appearing rejuvenated by the holiday break, sprinted out to a 25-15 lead midway through the period. Erin Nelson sank a pair of layups forcing Bluffton to burn a timeout.  Macey Sheerer scored five points to lead Bluffton on a 14-0 run as it seized a 34-27 lead with 3 ½ minutes left in the half.

Bluffton held a 43-40 lead at halftime, but Payne scored on the first two possessions as Albion erased the deficit early in the second half.

"We gave up too many points in the first half," Carden said. "A lot of it was getting in the gaps because they like to get to the basket. Darian did a good job of getting around their center (Rachel Beining) and having great weak side help."

Briton Notes

 Payne made 12-of-13 shots from the field to achieve a career-high 25 points. It was her second 20-point game of the season and she raised her season field goal percentage to .556 (55-of-99).

Curry was 5-of-8 from the field and the line as she finished with 16 points.

Neary, who knocked down 2-of-3 shots from three-point range, finished with 14 points.

Albion shot a season-best 53 percent (29-of-55) from the field and the 20 assists were a season-best.

Olivia Savage has dished out five assists in three straight games.

Next Up

Albion, 7-3 overall, will challenge Denison University in the championship game of the McDonald's of Bluffton Holiday Tournament at 5 p.m. Monday.

"Playing for the tournament championship means a lot," Carden said. "The players came in wanting to do well."