Despite 28 points from both Lianna Carrero (Hamden, Conn.) and Lindsay Karle (Wallingford, Conn.), the Albertus Magnus women's basketball team opened Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play with an 85-77 loss to Rivier College on Saturday afternoon.

The loss moves the Falcons to 6-2 on the year and 0-1 in conference play as Rivier improves to 6-3 overall and 1-0 in the league standings.

Carrero added six assists and five rebounds for the Falcons, while Karle hit 8-of-8 from the free-throw line.

Annie Raucci (Milford, Conn.) pulled down 13 rebounds to lead all players to mark her third-straight double-digit rebounding effort. Freshman Annie Sutila (Bridgeport, Conn.) contributed with eight points as she hit 3-of-6 from the floor, while Raucci tallied six points and three blocked shots for the Falcons.

Albertus shot 39.1-percent from the floor as the Falcons were limited to just five of their 19 attempts from behind the arc. Rivier scored 21 points off 28 Falcon turnovers, while Albertus out rebounded the Raiders 55-39.

Albertus shot better in the second half, hitting 15-of-32 attempts, but the Raiders hit four 3-pointers at key moments of the contest to take their double-digit lead.

Carrero scored in double figures for fifth-straight game as it was her sixth game of the year with 10 or more points. Her 28 points also marks a season-best.

For Karle, it was her third-consecutive game with double-digit points, while it was her second-straight with 20 or more. Today's 28-point effort also marked a career-high for the sophomore.

Rivier was led by sisters Amandra and Deanna Purcell, who combined for 53 of the Raiders' 85 points. Amandra scored 23 on 8-of-26 shooting, while she added six steals. Deanna pulled down 10 rebounds to go with 30 points.

Lindsey Raynor (Branford, Conn.) added seven boards for the Falcons as she played 18 minutes.

Albertus will have three weeks off from games before hosting Saint Joseph's College of Brooklyn on Tuesday, Jan. 3 in a 5:00 p.m. non-conference contest.