TEAM RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (11-7, 6-3) | Anna Maria (2-14, 0-9)
PAXTON, Mass. – Led behind four double-digit performances from Jill Johnson (North Haven, Conn.), Angelina Piccirillo (Naugatuck, Conn.), Liz Falcigno (Wallingford, Conn.) and Olivia Bolden (South Windsor, Conn.), the Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team defeated Anna Maria College, 83-72, in a GNAC showdown on Saturday afternoon.
Albertus Magnus came out hot opening the game with a 4-0 run before extending its lead to six, 11-5, following a three from Piccirillo at the 7:13 mark. Shortly after, Anna Maria rattled off six-straight points to tie the game at 11-11, but the Falcons would hold a 16-15 lead entering the second quarter.
Over the next seven minutes of play, Albertus and Anna Maria exchanged leads and went through two ties before the hosts went up four, 30-26, with 2:19 remaining on the clock. Albertus would end the half tying Anna Maria at 34-34 after back-to-back free throws from Johnson.
Up by eight, 49-41, just three minutes into the third, Albertus Magnus saw its lead start to dwindle away as the hosts regained the lead, 57-55, after a three from Nicole Mareiro, with 3:49 left in the quarter. Despite tying the hosts at 57-57, the Falcons would trail Anna Marie by two, 63-61, heading into the final 10 minutes of play.
Anna Maria closest attempt to regain the lead came at the 3:20 mark as two made free throws brought the score to within five, 75-70, but Albertus Magnus would go on to win the game 83-72.
FIRST HALF STATS
- Bolden scored 12 of the Falcons' 18 points in the second quarter.
- Anna Maria College dominated on the board with 21 rebounds compared to the Falcons' 18.
SECOND HALF STATS
- Not only did Anna Maria outshoot the Falcons in the second, 19-18, but the team also outshot the visitors in the third, 29-27.
- Anna Maria recorded only one steal in the final 10 minutes of play.
- The Falcons recorded just one turnover over the final two quarters.
FINAL STATS
- Bolden earned her 11th double-double of the year with a team-high 26 points and 12 rebounds while Johnson and Falcigno netted 16 points, respectively.
- Anna Maria outrebounded the visitors by a 37-35 margin, but was outscored 22-9 in second change points.
- Albertus forced 18 Anna Maria turnovers and scored 21 of their 83 points off those errors.
- This game saw seven ties and 11 lead changes.
UP NEXT
The Falcons return to action on Thursday, Jan. 26 against Emmanuel (Mass.). Game time is set for 7 p.m. in New Haven, Conn. at "The Nest".