Newton, Mass. – Sophomore forward Olivia Bolden scored a game-high 31 points on 10-of-16 shooting to lead the Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team past host Lasell, 73-50, on Saturday afternoon in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action at Athletic Center Gym.
With their sixth straight GNAC victory, the Falcons improve to 14-7 overall and 6-2 in conference play, while the Lasers dropped their second straight to move to 11-11 on the year and 4-5 in league tilts.
Albertus Magnus pulled away in the second quarter, erasing a one-point deficit after the first stanza and building a 14-point edge at the break. The guests shot an impressive 57 percent (8-of-14) from the field in the second and outscored the hosts, 24-9. Over the final 90 seconds of the half, AMC ended on a 8-0 run with four points apiece from Bolden and junior guard Liz Falcigno (Wallingford, Conn.).
Lasell opened the second quarter with a trey from Brianna Hoffman on its opening possession to take a four-point lead at 22-18. The Falcons responded with an 11-0 run capped by an old fashioned three-point play from Bolden to give Albertus a 29-22 advantage. The visitors would never trail again in the contest. During the spurt, Bolden scored nine points and knocked down three shots from the charity stripe.
In the first quarter, the two GNAC foes went back-and-forth with neither team leading by more than two possesions. The opening frame saw two ties and three lead changes with the Lasers bulding a six-point edge following back-to-back three-pointers early.
Albertus led by double digits throughout the second half. After Lasell cut the deficit to 10 midway through the third quarter courtesy of a three-pointer from Jaime Caron, AMC closed the frame on a 13-0 run to take a 23-point lead into the fourth. Over the final 4:20 of the third, Albertus Magnus held the Lasers scoreless with Lasell missing their final six shots of the period.
Bolden led the offensive charge for the guests and tied a season-high with 31 points. She knocked 10 shots from the field and hit 10 from the charity stripe as well. Bolden also added 10 rebounds to record her eighth double-double of the winter. Senior forward Chelsea Sherrod (Bridgeport, Conn.) had a strong game in the post, scoring eight points and pulling down a game-best 14 rebounds. Falcigno added nine points for the Falcons while senior guard Olivia Sutherland (Wallingford, Conn.) registered six points, nine rebounds and four assists.
The Falcons have now won six of the last seven against Lasell, including two in a row.
Albertus Magnus returns to action on Monday, February 8, with a home non-conference clash against in-state foe Coast Guard at 7:00 pm inside The Nest. The Falcons are looking to snap a six-game losing streak versus the Bears.
For the latest information on the women's basketball team and Albertus Magnus athletics, follow AMCAthletics on Twitter and visit AlbertusFalcons.com.
