ALBION, Mich. – The Spring Arbor University women's basketball team dropped a non-conference game 56-45 to local rival Albion College on Wednesday night inside Kresge Gymnasium.
The Cougars, who were playing for the second time in as many days, trailed by just two late in the contest but went nearly four minutes without a field goal down the stretch, allowing the Britons to pull away.
The loss dropped SAU to 4-9 on the season while Albion bumped its record to 6-3.
The Britons charged out to a 13-5 lead to open the game but the Cougar defense would hold the home team scoreless for a five minute span following the early surge. Spring Arbor capitalized on the dry spell with junior Jessica Mabry and sophomore Kylie Townsley combining for eight points to power a 12-0 run, putting SAU on top 17-13 at the 6:28 mark.
Albion responded, however, and connected on its next four shots from the field to take a 25-20 lead into halftime.
The Britons extended the margin to seven immediately to start the second period, but Spring Arbor battled back. After a three-pointer from freshman Faith Johnson narrowed the deficit to two, Townsley converted an old-fashioned three point play to give the Cougars a 32-31 advantage with 14:07 remaining.
Albion answered, once again, with six straight points as part of a 14-7 run to grab a six point lead, 45-39, with 5:58 left on the clock. Back-to-back baskets from senior Lindsey Burnside and sophomore Aimee Konkel put SAU within two at the 3:55 mark, but the Cougars would be held without a field goal the rest of the way while the Britons converted their opportunities at the free throw line to clinch the victory.
Spring Arbor was held to 28 percent (17-for-61) shooting on the night, including 2-for-21 from behind the arc, while Albion shot 43 percent (21-for-49). The Britons gave the ball away 22 times, but out-rebounded the Cougars 49-30.
Mabry scored 11 points to pace the Cougars and Townsley and Konkel followed with nine points apiece. Townsley also hauled in a team-high six rebounds while Burnside, Mabry and senior LeAnn Porter all grabbed four each.
Spring Arbor returns to the court on Saturday, Dec. 20 when it hosts Lourdes University (5-8) at 1 p.m.
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