WILKES-BARRE – Visiting Albright College scored 30 points off turnovers on way to a 77-54 victory over the Wilkes University women's basketball team Saturday afternoon in both teams' season opening game at the Marts Center.
 
Albright jumped out to an eight point lead early in the first quarter before two free throws from Reagan Holden (Wilkes-Barre, PA/Wilkes-Barre Area) and five straight points from Madison Olguin (San Antonio, TX/Antonian Prep) brought Wilkes to within four trialing 20-16 with 2:19 on the clock. The Lions lead remained four after one as the teams traded points at the charity stripe to finish off the frame.
 
Albright used its full court pressure and some costly Wilkes miscues to build its advantage back to double digits leading 36-22 with 4:32 left in the second quarter. A quick 8-0 run by the Colonels including seven points from Yamirelis Matos (Springfield, MA/Chicopee) brought the Colonels back again this time trailing by six with just under three minutes left in the first half. Albright answered the Wilkes run with back-to-back buckets before a pair of Holden free throws kept the Lions ahead 41-32 at the break.
 
The lead continue to hover around nine points before a 7-1 run from the Lions gave the visitors their biggest advantage of the game up 59-41 with 2:56 left in the third stanza. The Lions lead would not go below 13 points the rest of the third and through the fourth quarter of play as the visitors recorded their first win of the year.
 
Matos led all scorers with a game-high 20 points and added seven rebound and two assists. Holden followed with 10 points including a 6-6 performance from the foul line.
 
Mackenzie Dover topped Albright with 16 points and four rebounds while Gigi Serrano added 14 points and four boards.
 
Wilkes heads to the road for a local rivalry match up at Misericordia University on Tuesday starting at 6:00 p.m.