Link: Box Score

Standish, Me. - Senior forward Olivia Bolden (South Windsor, Conn.) of the Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team netted her 2,000th career-point in the first quarter before finishing the game with 21 points and seven rebound as the Falcons fell short in the GNAC semifinal to top-seeded Saint Joseph's of Maine Thursday evening at the Harold Alfond Center.

FINAL SCORE: Saint Joseph's of Maine 78 | Albertus Magnus 65
RECORDS: #5 Albertus Magnus (18-8) | #1 Saint Joseph's of Maine (26-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED

Albertus Magnus controlled the opening quarter with the early four-point lead, 20-16, heading into the final 10 minutes of the half. Saint Joseph's of Maine threatened the Falcons in the second, outshooting the visitors by a two-point margin, 18-16, but would head into the locker room trailing by two, 36-34. Junior Kiki Epps (Norwalk, Conn.) would give the Falcons the two-point edge on a made layup after a nice feed from Jill Johnson (North Haven, Conn.) with two seconds left on the clock.

It was an evenly matched third as both team traded baskets and led for no more than four-points each. The Monks would head into the fourth and final quarter up one, 53-52.

With the contest tied at 61-61 and 3:29 remaining, the Monks netted six unanswered points to grab a 67-61 lead with 1:50 left. Epps scored four points off a layup and a pair of freebies to offset a Monks' baseline jumper, making it a 69-65 game with 32 seconds on the clock.

Saint Joseph's put the game away at the free-throw line, as the hosts made nine of 10 shots from the line – effectively scoring the game's final nine points – in the final 25 seconds of play.

NOTEWORTHY

• This is the Falcons sixth-straight GNAC postseason appearance, extending their all-time total to 17.
• Albertus Magnus holds an all-time postseason record of 11-17.
• Bolden's 21-point performance extends her career-total to 2,017.
• The Falcons conclude the 2017-18 season with an overall record of 18-5.
• Following tonight's win, Saint Joseph's of Maine holds a 2-0 edge over the Falcons in the postseason all-time series.
• Saint Joseph's has now won 25-consecutive games and enters the GNAC Championship having won 36-consecutive home contests.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Albertus Magnus - 42.9% (field goal), 36.4% (three point) and 73.1% (free throw)
• Saint Joseph's of Maine - 45.3% (field goal), 38.5% (three point) and 69% (free throw)
• This game saw nine ties and 13 lead changes.
• Albertus Magnus out rebounded the hosts 37-25 as well as posted 12 second chance points.
• Saint Joseph's of Maine capitalized on the Falcons' 25 turnovers scoring 28 points.
• The Falcons dominated in the paint, 26-18.
• Along with Bolden, junior Kiki Epps (Norwalk, Conn.) and senior Angelina Piccirillo (Naugatuck, Conn.) scored in double-figures for the visitors netting 15 and 12 points, respectively.
• Kelso McNamara scored 31 of the Monks' 78 points behind 8-of-18 shooting from the field, 5-of-11 shooting from three-point range and 10-of-12 from the charity stripe.
• Freshman Andreah Orr (Danbury, Conn.) led the Falcons defensively with two blocks along with five defensive rebounds.
• Junior Jill Johnson (North Haven, Conn.) assisted a team-best five baskets while freshman Raegon Shirling-Davis (Waterbury, Conn.) posted four herself.
• Joining McNamara in double-digits for the Monks was Julia Champagne with 16, Hannah Marks with 10 and Emily Benway with 12.
• The Monks scored 28 points off 25 Albertus turnovers and committed 15 miscues – off which the Falcons netted 15 points – and registered 18 assists on 24 field goals in the victory.