ALBION – Riley Davis has scored 315 points in her Albion career. None were bigger than her final two tonight. With 3.9 seconds on the clock, the junior pump faked her defender and sank a layup to lift the Albion College women's basketball team over No. 12 Trine University, 63-62. The shot came off a perfect inbounds pass from roommate, Cierra Cole.
On National Girls and Women in Sports Day, the Britons earned their second win over a ranked opponent this season. It snapped a 21 game losing skid against the Thunder, dating back to 2014. The last time the Brits defeated both Hope and Trine in the same season was in the 2011-12 campaign – where most players on the team were in middle or elementary school.
Daniah Beavers led all scorers with 21 points, cashing in on 10 of 13 shots from the floor. With 10 rebounds, the junior recorded her seventh double-double of the season. Classmate Lolo Reed also picked up a double-double, scoring 14 points and hauling in 13 boards. Elena Welker proved her consistency in the lineup, playing 39 minutes and scoring 10 points.
It was a tight contest from the tip, as Trine erased an early Albion advantage. After one period, the Britons had a slim 11-10 lead. The Britons went on a run late in the second, building a lead as large as 11 points thanks to a big corner triple from Becca Ross. Trine – a team that went to the Final Four last season – cut the lead to four by halftime.
Albion built its lead right back up in the third, holding a 10 point advantage heading into the final period. But, a veteran Trine squad wasn't going away, cutting the Albion lead to two points with 36 seconds on the clock.
Clinging to a 61-59 lead, the Britons turned the ball over, giving the ball back to the visitors with plenty of time on the clock. With 6.7 seconds to play, Trine buried a 3-pointer from the corner, taking a 62-61 lead and attempting to finish the comeback.
After a timeout and advancing the ball, Cole was the inbounder, placing a perfect pass to Davis on the opposite block. A great shot fake got her defender in the air, as Davis sank her sixth and seventh points of the evening with 3.9 seconds to play.
Out of timeouts, Trine was forced to work quickly. Fifth year senior Cole made a heads up play, fouling Trine to disrupt any momentum and allow her defense to get back. Cole played 38 minutes in the win while scoring eight points and adding two steals.
As time dwindled down, the visitors were unable to get a good look at the basket for the go-ahead shot. It was the second time this season a band of Britons stormed the court after upending a Top 25 opponent.
Welker (six assists) and Reed (five assists) were instrumental in the offense. Davis tacked on nine rebounds to her stat line.
Albion will host Kalamazoo on Saturday in the second half of a doubleheader with the men's team. Game time is scheduled for 3 p.m.
