The Albertus Magnus women's basketball team fell to Saint Joseph's College of Maine 72-61 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play on Saturday afternoon in New Haven, Conn.
The Falcons fell to 5-8 on the year with the loss and 0-3 in league play. The Monks improve to 8-3 overall and open GNAC play with the double-digit victory.
The Falcons led 14-6 in the first half before the Monks went on a 12-4 run to tie the game at 18 with 7:43 on the clock. The Monks took a two-point lead 11 seconds later to take their first lead since the opening minute of the contest.
Saint Joseph's took a four-point lead at the halftime break at 30-26 but the Falcons held a 24-23 edge in rebounds in the opening 20 minutes of play. Kelsey Pendagast (Shelton, Conn.) led all scorers with nine points in the first half to go along with 10 rebounds.
In the second half, the two teams traded baskets before Albertus tied the contest at 36 thanks to back-to-back three-point field goals by junior Olivia Sutherland (Wallingford, Conn.). The Falcons took a 43-41 lead before extending that advantage to four at 45-41 on an Olivia Bolden (South Windsor, Conn.) basket.
The Monks battled back to take a 58-53 advantage before Albertus answered to tie the score at 61.
Abbie Eastman hit a key three pointer to make the score 64-61 before a Sarah Assante bucket gave the Monks a five-point lead.
Assante hit six free throws with under two minutes to go in regulation to extend the Monks' lead and secure the victory.
Despite the loss, the Falcons out-rebounded the Monks 46-44 on the afternoon.
Assante finished with 11 points and 12 rebounds, while Morgan Cahill led all scorers with 22 points.
Pendagast and Bolden each had 15 points for the Falcons, while Pendagast pulled down 17 rebounds as well. Kiarra Epps (Norwich) tallied 11 points off the bench. Sutherland added seven assists and two steals before fouling out.
Albertus returns to action on Wednesday, Jan. 14 when they head to Boston to take on Emmanuel College in a 5:30 p.m. match-up.
