ALBION – For the first time since 2004, the Albion College women's basketball team is 10-1 through 11 games.
Running the floor for 26 fast break points, the Britons won their seventh straight contest in a 71-40 victory over Franklin College on Monday. Albion was excellent both defensively and in transition.
Elena Welker led all scorers with 21 points, the junior's second straight 20+ point performance. Lolo Reed was a key to the win, dishing out a career-best eight assists while swiping six steals.
That 10-1 start is just the third time in program history, all three times coming in the Doreen Carden era. In the historic 2004-05 season, the Brits went on to claim their lone MIAA Championship.
After Franklin sank a three to open the game, Riley Davis immediately answered at the other end with a corner three of her own. Davis finished with 14 points for the Britons.
A sluggish first quarter ended with the hosts holding a 13-6 edge, thanks to a triple by Becca Ross.
Albion's defense picked up in the second quarter to begin to pull away from the Grizzlies. A steal by Welker led to a trey by Davis at the other end off a pass from Reed. Davis's 3-point gave the Brits a 16-7 lead early in the second.
On an 8-0 run, the Britons got buckets from three different players to extend their lead to 24-9 with 4:45 before halftime. Junior Audrey DeWaters scored with 1:48 on the clock, pushing Albion up by 20 points, their largest lead of the half. Albion would lead 34-18 at the break.
Despite a late run from Franklin in the third, the Britons remained up by 14 heading into the fourth quarter.
Outscoring the Grizzlies 23-6 in the fourth, the Brits kept their feet on the gas to dominate the period and leave with a win.
Franklin held the advantage in rebounds, 48-43. Dareonna Little led Albion with seven rebounds.
Bolstered by the excellent defense from Cole and Reed, Albion turned 26 Grizzly turnovers into 26 points.
Franklin struggled from the floor, shooting just 24 percent and just 7 percent from deep. The Grizzlies fall to 4-4 overall.
Albion will be idle for the holiday before returning to action on Dec. 29 at Otterbein. The Britons will play Kenyon College in the first game of the tournament.
