CLARION’S JESSICA ALBANESE SCORES 1,000th CAREER POINT
Golden Eagles rally falls short
FAIRMONT, WV – Clarion University senior Jessica Albanese scored her 1,000th career point, but it wasn’t enough as the Golden Eagles saw a late comeback attempt fall short in a 71-66 loss to Concord on Day One of the Fairmont State New Year’s Classic Wednesday.
Albanese, who needed seven points to reach 1,000 coming into the game, reached the mark on a jumper at the 2:57 mark of the first half. The senior scored 10 of her 17 points in the first half helping Clarion (7-2) build a 36-28 halftime lead. She completed a double-double with 11 rebounds while becoming the 13th player in school history to reach 1,000 career points. She finished the day with 1,010 career tallies.
But Concord (6-2) came out on fire in the second half starting the half with a 24-5 run to take an 11-point lead, 52-41, halfway through the second half.
Concord then expanded that lead to 14 points, 65-51, with 5:32 left.
Clarion, however, wasn’t quite done going on a 15-3 run to cut the deficit to two points, 68-66, on a Katrina Greer jumper with 1:08 left. But Concord hit 3 of 4 free throws in the final 44 seconds to hold off the Golden Eagles comeback.
Sara Pratt added 14 points, five rebounds and four blocked shots for Clarion, Greer chipped in with 13 points and five boards and Ashley Grimm had five points and six assists and now needs eight assists to tie the school record of 470 set by Shelly Respecki in just two seasons.
Samm Nestor led all scorers with 23 points off the bench for Concord, while Cassidy Smith added 19 points.
Clarion returns to action Thursday when it faces host Fairmont State at 3 p.m.
NOTES – The loss broke a 4-game winning streak for Clarion.