Albion, MI – Alma College Women's Basketball closed out the 2024-25 season at Albion College last week. The Scots were felled by Hope 80-53, before falling to the Brits in the first round of the MIAA Tournament.
 
Hope 80, Alma 53
The Flying Dutch opened Alma's Saturday matchup by nailing three triples in a row to put the Scots in a 9-0 hole early. The lead ballooned to 11 points at 13-2 after another made three was the Hope response to an Emmerson Goodin layup. Alma struggled to lift the lid in the opening quarter, finding their second made basket of the game on a Reagan Thorr three with 4-minutes to play. However, it was Hope who refused to miss from downtown, hitting another pair of trifectas in route to a 26-15 lead after one. 

The Scots struggled in the second quarter, limited to five points in the period. Hope was able to pile on 16 of their own, and lead 42-20 at halftime. The Scots were unable to narrow the gap for much of the third quarter, yet held their own, largely going basket for basket with the nationally ranked hosts. The Scots trailed by 27 after three. Hope led by as much as 32 in the fourth, but Alma battled to a 80-53 final.

Cadence Kaminske (11 points) Brooke LeRoux (6 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists) and Goodin (6 points, 7 rebounds) led the way for Alma.
 
Albion 69, Alma 52
In the MIAA Tournament, Alma opened as the 5-seed at 4^th seeded Albion. The Scots got off to a level start to the game, before Albion ripped off an 8-0 run to open a gap. With both offenses slowing down, the Scots found makes to reel the hosts back in, pulling level on a Kaminske buzzer beating three pointer. After one quarter, things were level at 15-15. Opening the second quarter, it was another 9-0 Brits run to pull ahead, 24-15. The Scots scored four straight to pull Albion within touching distance, and worked back to a 26 -26 tie with over three minutes to go. The teams battled to a 31-30 Albion lead at halftime.
 
Out of the break, Albion slowly managed to pull out a six-point gap, increasing the lead to 10 points with under 90 seconds remaining in the quarter. Alma held on, trailing 49-41 after three quarters. Still within striking distance, Alma was unable to score early in the fourth quarter, allowing Albion to get out ahead by 14 points. As Alma's offense came back to life, the Brits were able to play possession for possession with the visitors, walking out with a 69-52 final score.

Goodin (20 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals) was the leader in the loss for Alma.

The Scots end the season at 10-16, and look forward to 2025-26.