BOSTON, Mass. - The Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team won its fifth straight game and trailed for just two minutes in a 59-55 Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) victory over Emmanuel.
It was the fifth straight win for the Falcons who have also won 13 of their last 14 games.
Jakara Murray-Leach (Norwalk, Conn.) had a double-double with 18 points and 12 rebounds. Caitlyn Scott (White Plains, N.Y.) had 16 points with six rebounds, Natasha Rivera (Ansonia, Conn.) scored 10 points with 15 rebounds for a double-double and Diamond White (Hamden, Conn.) scored 13 points with six steals
THE BASICS
FINAL: Albertus Magnus 59 | Emmanuel 55
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (17-4, 9-1 GNAC) | Emmanuel (9-10, 6-2 GNAC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
- After briefly trailing 2-0 nine seconds into the game, the Falcons were able to go on a 10-4 run as Murray-Leach and White each hit threes to put them up 10-6 with 5:49 in the first. Emmanuel scored the next four points, the final two from Olivia Matela, but four straight points from Murray-Leach gave Albertus the 14-10 lead, and eventually a 15-12 lead at the end of the first quarter. Murray-Leach had nine points in the first quarter.
- Both teams shot 4-12 (33.3) percent in the second quarter as the Falcons were able to take a 22-13 lead after a jumper from Scott nearly halfway through the frame. The Saints got back to within 24-22 on a three from Matela and a jumper from Paris Atuahene. The Falcons didn't allow another point the final 3:02 of the half and Scott hit a three with 1:49 left to put Albertus up, 27-22 at the half.
- Albertus scored the first seven points of the third quarter, highlighted by five points from Rivera, and the defense held Emmanuel scoreless until the 6:39 mark. The Saints got to within 34-28 after six straight points of their own, but the Falcons increased its lead to 13 points on multiple occasions in the quarter, and led 45-35 heading into the fourth.
- In a nail-biting fourth quarter, the Falcons again went back up by 13 points on a jump shot by Murray-Leach to make it 48-35. However, a foul on a three-point attempt by Matela sent her to the free-throw line. She sank all three, which led to a 15-2 run, including 11 straight points as the Saints tied the game at 50-50. Matela scored nine of the points during the run. Murray-Leach put Albertus back up 55-50 with 2:09 left before Matela answered with a three. Emmanuel had an opportunity to tie the game, but a block from Rivera on the defensive end on Meagan Schuermann salvaged the win as Albertus won the free throw battle down the stretch.
TEAM STATS
Albertus 24.6 FG% | 28.6 3PT% | 67.7 FT%
Emmanuel 26.6 FG% | 26.7 3PT% | 70.8 FT%
INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES
Albertus
- Jakara Murray-Leach 18 Points | 3-6 3PT | 12 Rebounds
- Natasha Rivera 10 Points | 15 Rebounds
- Caitlyn Scott 16 Points | 6 Rebounds | 4 Assists
- Diamond White 13 Points | 6 Steals
Emmanuel
- Oivia Matela 23 Points | 4-11 3PT | 7 Rebounds
NOTEWORTHY
- Scott moved up to eighth all-time in scoring in program history with 1,354 points in her career.
- It was the lowest point total in a win for the Falcons this season.
- Albertus has won two of the last three games against Emmanuel.
- It was the ninth double-double of the season for Murray-Leach and fifth for Rivera
UP NEXT
The Falcons drive up north to take on the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) on Saturday, February 3 at 1 p.m. in a battle of two of the top three teams in the GNAC.