Despite 23 points and 11 rebounds from junior Kelsey Pendagast (Shelton, Conn.), the Albertus Magnus women's basketball team fell to Drew University 68-60 in non-conference action on Wednesday night in Madison, N.J.
Pendagast shot 10-of-15 from the field and 3-of-6 from the free-throw line to lead the Falcons with her career-high tally.
Tonight's loss evens the Falcons' record to 1-1 on the year, while Drew improves to 2-1.
Albertus held an 8-3 lead early in tonight's contest before back-and-forth play tied the score at 16 at the 10:11 mark of the opening frame. After the score was tied at 18 with 9:03 left on the clock, there was not a single point scored until the Falcons took a 20-18 lead with 6:20 on the clock. Half of the Falcons' 20 points were scored off of nine Drew turnovers.
The Falcons held Drew without a basket for a span of 3:52 during the final nine minutes of the half before the Rangers tied the score at 20.
The Falcons shot just 34.2% from the floor in the opening frame and were led by freshman Tyler Evans (Stamford, Conn.) with eight points. Both teams struggled from behind the arc in the half as just two 3-pointers were hit in the opening 20 minutes of play. At the break, Albertus led 30-26.
Albertus took a 32-26 lead out of the break on an Olivia Bolden (South Windsor, Conn.) lay-up but the Rangers battled back and took a 35-34 lead at the 16:05 mark on a pair of free-throws by Hannah Miller.
With 13:12 left on the clock, the Falcons tied the game at 39 on a Pendagast lay-up but an 11-0 Drew run in a span of 2:32 gave the Rangers control of the contest with a 50-39 lead.
A Chelsea Sherrod (Bridgeport, Conn.) lay-up with 2:33 left on the clock cut the Rangers' lead down to six at 62-56 but that would be the closest the Falcons could get before the teams' traded baskets down the stretch to end the game with Drew as the eight-point favorite.
Along with Pendagast, Olivia Sutherland (Wallingford, Conn.) scored in double-digits as she tallied 11 points on the night.
Breana Wilson led the Rangers with 15 points, while teammate Michaela Keegan scored 10 points off the bench.
Albertus finished the contest shooting 33.3% (25-of-75) from the floor, including a 1-of-16 clip from behind the arc. Drew 48.9% (22-of-45) from the field as the Rangers' outscored the Falcons 42-30 in the second half.
In a game that featured eight tied scores and five lead changes, the Falcons out-rebounded the Rangers 46=39 and tallied 42 points in the paint compared to Drew's 26.
Albertus returns to action this weekend at Muhlenberg for the Scotty Wood Tournament. The Falcons face host Muhlenberg on Friday night at 6:00 p.m., while their Saturday contest has yet to be determined.
