GREENSBORO, N.C. – Marymount (Virginia) University’s Nicole Viscuso led all scorers with 21 points as the Saints advanced to the sectionals of the NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball Championship with a second-round victory over Albright College, 68-59.
Albright (23-6) jumped to a 13-5 led with 1:27 left in the first quarter on Jane Joyce’s second basket of the period. The Saints (24-5) responded with a 5-0 run to close the quarter, awakening their offense in a period in which they made four field goals, compared to Albright’s six.
Marymount extended the run to 14-0 and dominated the first second quarter’s five minutes as the Lions were held scoreless until the 5:03 mark in the period. Viscuso scored the last four points in the final minute of the period to give the Saints their largest first-half lead, nine points, heading into halftime. Marymount shot seven-of-14 (50 percent) for the quarter while Albright shot three-of-12 (25 percent).
The Lions opened the second half with a 12-0 run over the first 4:17 of the period. Gabriella Haddad’s four-straight points near the middle of the quarter sparked an 10-2 Marymount run. Viscuso made three straight baskets in the closing stages of the quarter as Marymount widened its lead to seven.
Kiki Laux’s basket grew the Saints’ lead as large as 11 points with 7:05 remaining in the fourth quarter as Marymount began to pull away. Alysha Lofton’s basket with 3:48 remaining cut the deficit to six for Albright, but the Saints held on, and led by as many as 10 down the stretch.
Viscuso’s 21 points came on eight-of-16 shooting. She also collected eight rebounds and four steals. Three other Marymount students tallied in double figure, led by Tyffani McQueen’s 14 points. Laux joined Regan Lohr with 12 points. Laux also added seven rebounds.
Nina Mazzarelli paced Albright with 19 points on seven-of-13 shooting. Shannon Thomas added 15 points, while Devan Horka added 12 points, seven rebounds and four steals.
Marymount advances to the tournament’s third round to play the University of Saint Thomas (Minn.), a 73-69 winner over the University of Chicago in another second-round game Saturday. Sites for the next two rounds of NCAA play will be announced Sunday (3/5).
Marymount (Va.) vs Albright
03/04/17 7:00 pm at Greensboro, NC – Ragan-Brown Field House
At Greensboro, NC – Ragan-Brown Field House
MARYMOUNT (VA.) 68
ALBRIGHT 59
MARYMOUNT (VA.) (24-5): Nicole Viscuso 8-16 4-4 21; Tyffani McQueen 5-6 4-8 14; Kiki Laux 5-13 2-2 12; Regan Lohr 4-7 2-3 12; Gabriella Haddad 2-2 2-3 6; Tenesha Green 0-0 2-4 2; Leah Hurst 0-6 1-2 1; Leann Loch 0-0 0-0 0; Madelynne DeCou 0-0 0-0 0; Lauryn Stouffer 0-0 0-0 0. Totals 24-50 17-26 68.
ALBRIGHT (23-6): Mazzarelli, Nina 7-13 3-3 19; Thomas, Shannon 5-12 2-2 15; Horka, Devan 6-10 0-1 12; Lofton, Alysha 2-6 1-2 5; Joyce, Jane 2-9 0-2 4; Jones, Aniya 1-1 0-0 3; Jackson, Amara-Niani 0-2 1-1 1; Ryan, Maura 0-0 0-0 0; Harris, Morgan 0-0 0-0 0; Gray, Kewa 0-0 0-0 0; Lea, MiKayla 0-1 0-0 0; Killion, Lauren 0-1 0-0 0. Totals 23-55 7-11 59.
Marymount (Va.)............... 10 19 18 21 - 68 Albright...................... 13 7 21 18 - 59
3-point goals–Marymount (Va.) 3-8 (Regan Lohr 2-5; Nicole Viscuso 1-1; Leah Hurst 0-2), Albright 6-16 (Thomas, Shannon 3-8; Mazzarelli, Nina 2-5; Jones, Aniya 1-1; Killion, Lauren 0-1; Lofton, Alysha 0-1).
Fouled out–Marymount (Va.)-None, Albright-Lofton, Alysha; Horka, Devan.
Rebounds–Marymount (Va.) 33 (Nicole Viscuso 8), Albright 30 (Lofton, Alysha 7; Horka, Devan 7).
Assists–Marymount (Va.) 13 (Leah Hurst 7), Albright 10 (Joyce, Jane 3).
Total fouls–Marymount (Va.) 14, Albright 24.
Technical fouls–Marymount (Va.)-None, Albright-None.
A-55
NCAA Division III Women’s Basketball – Second Round
Marymount (Va.) advances to the tournament’s third round.