Boston, Mass. - Led behind a double-double from senior Olivia Bolden (South Windsor, Conn.), the Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team topped Simmons in Great Northeast Athletic Conference play by a score of 59-56 on Thursday evening at Moore Gymnasium.
FINAL SCORE: Albertus Magnus 59 | Simmons 56
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (13-6, 7-4) | Simmons (2-15, 2-10)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Albertus Magnus opened the game with the early 11-4 lead before finding themselves up nine, 15-6, with 3:43 remaining, following a made layup from Olivia Bolden (South Windsor, Conn.). Simmons would close out the quarter with a 7-2 run to cut the deficit to four, 17-13, entering the second.
The Sharks would carry their run into the second, cutting the lead to one, 17-16, but the Falcons pushed their lead back up to six, 22-16, three minutes in. With the clock winding down, Albertus Magnus and Simmons battled through three lead changes before the Falcons held a three-point cushion, 28-25, at the half.
Albertus Magnus saw its lead grow to as large as seven, 45-38, at the 2:47 mark on a three from Angelina Piccirillo (Naugatuck, Conn.). Simmons would end the third cutting the lead to four, 45-41, following back-to-back baskets from Jalissa Rodriguez.
With seven minutes remaining in play, Albertus Magnus took its largest lead of the game 10, 53-43, and never looked back, despite the hosts cutting the score to within three, 57-54, with 32 seconds on the clock.
NOTEWORTHY
- On the road, the Falcons are 6-3 following tonight's win over the Sharks.
- With tonight's win, Albertus Magnus is now 18-5 against Simmons in the all-time series.
- Bolden's double-double is her sixth straight, 16th overall.
- Junior Jill Johnson (North Haven, Conn.) set a new career-high in steals with seven.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
- Albertus Magnus - 33.3% (field goal), 23.1% (three point) and 68.2% (free throw)
- Simmons - 33.8% (field goal), 28.6% (three point) and 66.7% (free throw)
- Bolden led the Falcons with a team-high 19 points, 11 rebounds and a steal despite fouling out.
- The Sharks out rebounded the Falcons by a 50-39 margin.
- Albertus Magnus posted 21 points off the Sharks' 25 turnovers.
- Simmons bench posted 19 overall points.
- This game saw one tie and two lead changes.
- Presley Silva paced the Sharks' offense with a team-high 14 points to go along with 10 rebounds, two assists, four steals and a block.
- Along with Bolden, Johnson and Kiki Epps (Norwalk, Conn.) recorded in double-figures with 13 and 16 points, respectively.
- Simmons Lauren Brandau scored a career-best 10 points and added 11 rebounds for her first career double-double and added six steals and three assists, while first year guard Carli Koffinke dropped in a personal-best 11 points and added an assist
UP NEXT
Albertus Magnus returns to action on Saturday, Jan. 27 as the Falcons take on Lasell College in a 1p.m. GNAC road tilt. Simmons is also on the road on Saturday at Emmanuel (Mass.)