GREENSBORO, N.C. – The Marymount (Va.) University women's basketball team battled its way through another round of the NCAA DIII Women's Basketball Tournament on Saturday night, advancing past Albright College, 68-59, and into the Sweet 16. 

With three ties and seven lead changes, the matchup was nothing less than exciting. Through the first quarter, it remained close throughout with Albright taking the 13-10 advantage into the first break. Junior Leah Hurst, using her point-guard skills, dished out three assists in the opening 10 minutes while junior forward Nicole Viscuso and freshman Regan Lohr dropped in a three-pointer each to lead the Saint offense. 

Although trailing entering the second quarter, the momentum was very much in the Saints favor, bolstering a 19-7 10-minute stretch to take a 29-20 lead into the locker room. It all began on the restart when Lohr ignited a nine-point run for MU on a three-pointer to draw the game even at 13-13. Sophomore Tyffani McQueen added four points in the stretch while Viscuso added a layup. 

Like the way the Saints opened the quarter, they ended it in similar fashion, with eight-unanswered points. Viscuso notched four of the eight points, and senior Kiki Laux and McQueen added a finish inside the arc each. 

Coming out of the half, the Lions quickly erased the deficit with 12-straight points to retake the lead, 32-29. A jumper by Laux halted the run, and the score would remain close until the final two minutes of the period when another run ignited for the Saints. Six-straight points combined between Viscuso and Laux pushed the Saints back ahead by seven, 47-40, before a free throw by the Lions right before the break gave Marymount a six-point advantage to head into the final quarter. 

Quick buckets by Laux and Viscuso opened the home stretch to push the Saints out ahead to double-digits. Consistency on both ends through the last 10 minutes kept the score close to that type of margin, including accuracy at the free-throw line, eventually taking the 68-59 victory and a celebration on the court for a trip to the Sweet 16. 

Four Saints had double-figure scoring nights led by Viscuso with a game-high 21 points and eight rebounds. McQueen chipped in 14 points, while Lohr and Laux added 12 apiece. Hurst finished with a game-high seven assists, combining for 16 total through the two-game stretch in Greensboro this weekend. 

Marymount will now take on the University of St. Thomas (Minn.) next Friday, March 10 at a location and time to be announced. Be sure to check out www.marymountsaints.com as the information becomes available. 

Photo Credit: d3photography.com