Two weeks ago: The Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team ran its winning streak to five games thanks to going a perfect 3-0 in non-conference action two weeks ago. The Falcons averaged over 88 points per game and won the three contests by 58, 20 and 31. Albertus Magnus been dominant in the post this winter, outrebounding opponents by an average margin of over five boards per game. During their five-game winning streak, the Falcons are shooting over 34 percent (36-105) from beyond the arc and forcing over 23 turnovers per tilt.
This week: After an eight-day layoff, the women's team returns to action to face Empire State foe Manhattanville in non-conference action on Wednesday night at 7:00 pm. The tilt with the Valiants is the final one of the calendar year for the Falcons, as the team will have three-weeks off for the holiday break.
Match-up:
Albertus Magnus (6-3) at Manhattanville (5-2)
Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at 7:00 pm.
Kennedy Gym
Purchase, N.Y.
Live Stats: Click here (All links will become active at the start of the contest)
Live Video: Click here
Last Season Versus the Valiants: Manhattanville shot over 56 percent from the field en route to an 82-60 win in New Haven against Albertus Magnus. In the contest, three Falcons scored in double figures with forward Kelsey Pendagast pouring in a team-high 13 points. The Valiants were led offensively by guard Bri Pabon with a game-best 21 points and five assists. Both teams committed 20 turnovers in the game and Manhattanville outscored the Falcons, 42-26, in the paint.
Series History: This will be the second-ever meeting between the two squads with the Falcons looking to avenge last season's setback.
Scouting Manhattanville: The Valiants enter the week with a 5-2 overall record and are currently riding a three-game home winning streak. Manhattanville is averaging over 65 points per contest this winter and holding opponents to just 32 percent shooting. The team has struggled from the free-throw line, knocking down just 49 percent of their attempts from the charity stripe (82-of-165). The squad is also converting only 24 percent of its shots from three-point range (21-of-86). The balanced Valiant attack sees three players averaging double figures. Four the team's five starters average at least seven points per game. Senior guards Ashley Raaf and Ashley Franklin both average more than 11 points per tilt for the Valiants.
Albertus Notes:
- The Falcons enter the tilt riding a five-game winning streak. Against teams from New York this winter, Albertus Magnus is 5-1. On the road, the Falcons are 3-2 this season with their two losses coming at Division I foe Yale and No. 2 Amherst.
- Junior guard Liz Falcigno has topped the 20-point plateau in three of the last four games for the women. On the season, she is averaging just under 15 points per game and shooting over 45 percent from three-point range. She leads the team in points (133), three-pointers made (20), free-throw percentage (76.7), steals (27), field-goal percentage (47.9), three-point field goal percentage (45.5) and made field goals (45). Falcigno recorded a career-high seven steals last time out against New Rochelle.
- Pendagast has been a force in the post, registering back-to-back double-double. Over the last two games, she is shooting 55 percent from the floor and averaging 12 points and 11 rebounds. The 5-10 senior captain is leading the team in rebounding, pulling down just south of eight boards per tilt.
- Sophomore forward and reigning GNAC Rookie of the Year Olivia Bolden is producing 14 points and six rebounds a game this winter. She has recorded one double-double this winter in an 87-80 double overtime win at SUNY Cobleskill is have scored 14 or more points in five straight games.
- As a team, Albertus Magnus is averaging over 73 points per contest and shooting 37 percent from the field. In their six wins, the Falcons have hit a combined 45 three-pointers. In their three losses, the team hit just three.
- Off the bench, freshman Deja Ward and sophomore Angelina Piccirillo have provided a spark for AMC. Ward is averaging more than 10 points a game and shooting 45 percent from the field, while Piccirillo had back-to-back double-digit performances two weeks ago in victories against Farmingdale State and Medgar Evers.
