The Scots' Women's Basketball team hit the road on Wednesday evening, for an important league contest at Albion College. Alma entered the game trailing the Britons by one game in the race to host a first-round playoff game. After a low-scoring 49-40 loss, the Scots have some work to do to secure that coveted home playoff contest.

Albion took a 3-0 lead on a three-pointer by Melissa Shaw at the 18:11 mark of the first half.  The Scots answered with a jumper by Sr. F Meagan Hoblet (Cadillac, MI/Cadillac) 14 seconds later. In a microcosm of the half, the next basket did not occur until Sr. G Lacey Best-Rowden (Lansing, MI/Waverly) hit a lay-up with 13:55 left in the half to give Alma a 4-3 advantage.  

The closely contested game was still at just 6-6 at the midway point of the half, but the two teams got a bit warmer the rest of the way.  The home team went into halftime with a 21-17 lead. The Scots shot just 30% (eight of 27 ) in the first 20 minutes, while the Britons were good on eight of 31 attempts (26%).

Alma cut the lead to 21-20 just 42 seconds into the second half.  However, the Britons went on a 12-3 run to take a 34-23 advantage at the 12:54 mark. Albion was able to control the pace of the game the remainder of the way, but the Scots did make it interesting. When Hoblet hit the second of two free throws at 1:56, Alma got as close as they would come, with Albion leading 46-40. Three free throws the rest of the way, solidified the nine-point victory for the Britons.

Hoblet led the Scots with 11 points and had four rebounds, while Best-Rowden had 10 points, five rebounds and a team-high four steals. Sr. F Kathryn Bigelow (Alma, MI/Alma) had team-bests with seven rebounds and six assists, while So. C Aubrey Maxa (Saginaw, MI/Swan Valley) added eight points.

Alma will next host Olivet College on Saturday afternoon in a 3:00 p.m. tip-off at Cappaert Gymnasium.