New Haven, Conn. – The Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team shot a season-high 49 percent from the field en route to a 93-50 thumping of Saint Joseph (Conn.) in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Tuesday evening at The Nest inside the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center.
The host Falcons snapped a two-game skid with the 43-point triumph to improve to 7-6 on the year and 1-2 in conference play, while the Blue Jays dropped their second in a row to fall to 1-12 overall and 0-2 in league tilts.
Albertus Magnus scored 22 or more points in three of the game's four quarters to surpass the 90-point plateau for the fourth time this season. In the opening frame, the Falcons knocked down 10-of-20 shots from the field and 7-of-8 free-throw attempts to hold a 28-11 edge after 10 minutes. During the first quarter, the hosts held USJ to just 26 percent shooting (5-of-19) and the Falcons swarming D forced a trio of turnovers.
In the second quarter the Falcon reserves saw most of the action and again held Saint Joseph to just 11 points, as the Blue Jays knocked down just 2-of-16 shots in the stanza. AMC closed the first half on a 5-1 run capped by a layup from junior forward Megan Thornton (Worcester, Mass.) take a 45-22 advantage into halftime.
In the second half, the Falcons pulled away thanks to shooting over 61 percent (8-of-13) from the field during the fourth quarter. Albertus Magnus senior point guard Olivia Sutherland (Wallingford, Conn.) knifed to the basket with ease on three of the team's first four possessions of the final period before heading to the bench to call it a day with 13 points and a season-high nine assists.
Offensively, junior guard Liz Falcigno (Wallingford, Conn.) led the charge for the Falcons, pouring in a game-high 18 points on 3-of-5 shooting from beyond the arc to go along with three steals and two rebounds. Sophomore forward and reigning GNAC Rookie of the Year Olivia Bolden (South Windsor, Conn.) continued to be a force in the paint for AMC, netting 17 points on 6-of-12 shooting to go along with eight rebounds. Freshman guard Deja Ward was the other Falcon in double figures, scoring 10 points off the bench, while Thornton pulled down 10 boards and had eight points for the hosts off the bench as well.
It was a two-headed attack for USJ as senior guard Stephanie DeJesus and junior guard Carlee Putnam combined to score 30 of the team's 50 points. DeJesus had 16 points and four rebounds, while Putnam netted 14 courtesy of knocking down four shots from three-point range.
Albertus Magnus returns to action on Thursday, January 14, with a home non-conference clash against Purchase State. In last year's meeting, the Falcons scored a 64-49 triumph on the road versus the Panthers.
For the latest information on the women's basketball team and Albertus Magnus athletics, follow AMCAthletics on Twitter and visit AlbertusFalcons.com.
