New Haven, Conn. - Despite a 21-point, 17-rebound double-double from senior forward Rah-Rah Thompson (Bridgeport, Conn.), the Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team fell at home to the Saint Joseph's College of Maine, 70-62, in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action Saturday afternoon.
THE BASICS
Final: Saint Joseph's (ME) 70 | Albertus Magnus 62
Records: Albertus Magnus (12-6, 3-2 GNAC) | Saint Joseph's (ME) (11-6, 4-0 GNAC)
Box Score
HOW IT HAPPENED
Kaleigh Walsh opened the game's scoring with a two-point jumper 40 seconds into the first quarter, before Shyla Osmond (New Haven, Conn.) retaliated with a fade-away 3-pointer. With the score knotted at 7-7, Albertus went on a 6-0 push to go ahead 13-7 behind buckets from Osmond and Andreah Orr (Danbury, Conn.). Saint Joseph's Cassandra Staplefield brought the score to 13-9 with a little under 3 minutes left in the first on a pair of free throws, her 999th- and 1,000th-career points. An Osmond jumper and a Morgan Violette (North Branford, Conn.) free throw gave the hosts a 16-14 lead to end the first period.
After going down 31-29 with 2:45 left in the half, the Falcons rallied to go on a 7-1 run to take a 36-32 lead into the break. Thompson started the surge with a trey to make it 32-31, before Orr drained a pair of foul shots to put the Falcons up, 34-31. Less than a minute later, Thompson capped the run with two more free throws to give the home team an advantage at the break.
The Monks' began the second half with back-to-back 3-pointers, as Walsh swished a deep trey, and Quinn followed with her own 3-pointer to bring the visitors within one, 38-37, two minutes into the 3rd period. A short jumper by Jordan Jabar gave the Monks' the lead, 39-38, with 7:36 remaining in the 3rd period, before Thompson answered with her own jumper to regain the lead for the Falcons, 40-39, at the 7:10 mark.
Unfortunately for Albertus, the Monks scored 16 of the next 21 points to take a 54-44 advantage at the 5:11 mark of the third. Albertus again rallied, cutting the deficit to two, 57-55, with 1:35 left in the period. The difference ultimately settled at six points, 61-55, to end the quarter.
The two teams traded points for a majority of the fourth quarter, with the Falcons coming as close as six points, 66-60, before the final whistle. Saint Joseph's would not let up, however, to improve to a perfect 4-0 in the GNAC.
TEAM STATS
• Albertus 27.9% FG | 18.2% 3PT| 74.1% FT
• Saint Joseph's (ME) 40.7% FG | 33.3% 3PT| 66.7% FT
• This game saw six ties and nine lead changes.
• The Falcons held a 47-38 edge over the Monks in rebounding.
• Both teams scored 13 points off turnovers and 16 points in the paint.
• Albertus posted a 24-13 advantage in second-chance points.
KEY PERFORMERS
Albertus:
Rah-Rah Thompson- 21 points (5-16 FG, 1-3 3PT, 10-12 FT) | 17 rebounds| 4 assists
Shyla Osmond - 16 points (6-18 FG, 2-6 3PT, 2-4 FT) | 7 rebounds | 2 assists | 2 steals
Saint Joseph's (ME):
Cassandra Stapelfield - 20 points (5-16 FG, 3-8 3PT, 7-9 FT) | 7 rebounds | 2 assists
Alyson Fillion - 13 points (6-14 FG, 1-5 3PT, 0-1 FT) | 6 rebounds
Julia Quinn - 11 points (4-7 FG, 3-5 3PT) | 4 rebounds| 2 assists | 1 steal
DOUBLE-DOUBLES
Albertus: Rah-Rah Thompson (21 points, 17 rebounds)
NOTEWORTHY
• Today's clash is the 17th all-time meeting between the two teams.
• Albertus is 0-17 all-time against Saint Joseph's.
• The Falcons are now 8-1 at home this season.
• Albertus recorded a season-low 10 turnovers.
• Thompson collected her 13th double-double of the season behind 21 points and 17 rebounds
• Thompson scored 10 of her 21 points in the second quarter.
UP NEXT
The women's basketball team continues GNAC play on Saturday, February 1st, with a road showdown against Norwich University. Tip-off is set for 3 PM.
