For the fourth straight time in as many years, the Albertus Magnus women's basketball team opened the season with a victory as the Falcons defeated Mitchell College 85-67 on Saturday.

Albertus newcomer Tyler Evans (Stamford, Conn.) scored a game-high 28 points in her collegiate debut. She added five steals. Junior Olivia Sutherland (Wallingford, Conn.) added 18 points for the Falcons, while Olivia Bolden (South Windsor, Conn.) finished with 16.

Kelsey Pendagast (Shelton, Conn.) rounded out the double-digit scorers with 11 points as she added a game-high 12 rebounds. The Falcons scored the game's first eight points fueled by a pair of three-pointers from Evans before the Mariners responded with a 10-2 run to tie the game.

Albertus scored the next 13 points to open up its biggest lead of the half at 23-10. Mitchell then used a 19-4 run to take its first lead at 31-29. The lead changed hands four times over the final three minutes of the first half as Mitchell went into the break with a 37-36 lead. Evans scored 12 points while Bolden netted nine to lead Albertus at intermission. 

The Falcons grabbed the lead back for good on the opening possession of the second half as Evans hit her third and final three of the game. She followed with a layup on the next Albertus possession, and a Sutherland steal and fast-break layup forced Mitchell to take a timeout. With momentum on its side, Albertus quickly built the lead to double digits and never let the margin dip below 10 over the final 15 minutes of the contest.  The Falcons shot 63 percent in the second half and finished at 51 percent for the game.

Albertus also held a 53-34 edge on the glass.Albertus returns to action on Wednesday when the Falcons travel to Drew University for a 7 p.m. Match-up.