TIFFIN, Ohio -- The Heidelberg University Women's Basketball team opened their 2026-27 campaign and the
Jon Gin era at home against Albion College. The Student Princes lost a hard fought battle against the Britons, 54-48.
"I am so proud of the way our girls battled for the full 40 minutes," said Gin, who took the reins of the program in the spring. "I hope we hold our heads high for how we played against a very good, well-coached Albion team."
Heidelberg found the net first, with a free throw from center
Mya Jones to put the Berg up 1-0. The Britons responded with a 10 point run. The Student Princes clawed their way back to trail 7-12 at the end of the first quarter.
In the second, the Britons held the Student Princes scoreless until the seventh minute when freshman
Lauren Jacobs drove off a high-screen to earn her career debut basket.
Malia Mizeres followed with a layup in the next play (11-19). Albion expanded their lead to 11-21, when the energy shifted in Heidelberg's favor. Back-to-back layups from
Brenna Williams and
Abby Tier put the Berg within six points. With 3:02 left, Tier sunk her first three of the season to put 'Berg within three. A catch and rip three from Mizeres tied the game with one minute left. Despite outscoring Albion in the second (19-16), the tricolor could not cinch the lead, going into the half 26-28.
A hot start from
Tori See gave Heidelberg their first lead of the game. A layup followed by a three-point play put 'Berg up 31-30. Albion went on a short run, bringing the score to 33-35. A steal and fast break layup by See tied the match up once again with three minutes left. A foul shot by Jacobs put the Student Princes up by one with 1:30 left. A quick transition layup from
Brenna Williams secured the Berg's lead going into the fourth quarter, 38-35.
The Britons opened the fourth on a modest 7-2 run to regain the lead. A 3-pointer by Albion's Ameera Jenkins gave the visitors a five-point lead with two minutes left. Despite the deficit, the Student Princes continued to play solid defense and created good looks on offense -- but were unable to hit enough big shots late.
Jones led The Berg in rebounds, pulling down 10 and adding nine points.
See led with 11 points and also had four rebounds.
Hannah Hunt had four steals for HU, while Mizeres added three steals and three assists.
The six-point setback marked a dramatic turnaround from last season's meeting, when the Student Princes fell by 68 at Albion in the season opener.
Heidelberg will travel to Richmond, Indiana to take on the Earlham College Quakers on Saturday, Nov. 14th. Tipoff is slated for 1 p.m.
