New Haven, Conn. - Despite a combined 53 points from seniors Shyla Osmond (New Haven, Conn.) and Rah-Rah Thompson (Bridgeport, Conn.), the Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team came up short at home to Emmanuel (Mass.) College, 73-71, Wednesday evening in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) showdown at "The Nest" located in the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center. 

THE BASICS
FINAL: Emmanuel (Mass.) College 73 | Albertus Magnus College 71
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (15-7, 5-3 GNAC) | Emmanuel (16-7, 7-2 GNAC)
BOX SCORE 

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Falcons struck first as Osmond put away a nice two-point jumper on a pass from Thompson. Loredana D'Agostino then tied it up at four with a little over five minutes remaining. The Falcons then went on a 9-0 run and increased their lead to 13-4 with just over three minutes remaining in the first quarter. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the stanza with the Falcons coming out ahead 20-10.  

The Saints opened the second on a 10-1 scoring run to cut the hosts' lead to within one, 21-20, with a little under seven minutes to go in the half. Osmond retaliated a minute later with a fade-away jumper to cushion the hosts lead, 23-20. 

The Saints regained the lead following a six-point run, 26-23, before Osmond scored six straight points of her own to bring the score to 29-26, in favor of the hosts. The Saints resumed control on offense, 32-29, but Osmond nailed a jumper to make it a one-possession game at the half, 32-31. 

Albertus and Emmanuel traded baskets over the first three minutes of the third quarter. With the score tied at 38-38, a three by Thompson gave the hosts the lead again, 41-38, before Ramirez-Tejeda cut it to one with a lay-up, 41-40, with six minutes on the clock. Despite Albertus holding a two-point lead, 48-46, the Saints held a 50-48 advantage heading into the final 10 minutes of play. 

Then Saints struck first in the fourth, going on a 6-2 run to open the quarter. Solid offensive work by the Falcons made it a one-point game, 56-55, with eight minutes remaining. 

The Saints answered back with four straight points to bring it to 60-55, forcing the Falcons to call a time-out. The Falcons burst out of the short break with a six-point run and regained the lead, 61-60. The Saints then went on an 8-2 run to take the lead 68-63 with 2:33 remaining.

A basket from Cassie Couture (Waterbury, Conn.) brought the Falcons to within three, 68-65, with just under two minutes remaining in the game. The teams traded baskets until the 17-second mark, with the Saints coming out ahead, 72-68. 

Kyah Nowlin (Stamford, Conn.) drained a long three to bring the hosts within 1, 72-71, but the effort was in vain as Ramirez-Tejeda drained a free throw to secure the 73-71 victory for the Saints. 

TEAM STATS

• Albertus - 39% FG | 25%3PT| 58.3%FT
• Emmanuel - 45.3% FG | 0%3PT| 35.7%FT
• This game saw 11 lead changes and five ties. 

KEY PERFORMERS
Albertus:

• Shyla Osmond - 38 points (16-33 FG, 1-3 3PT, 5-6 FT) | 6 rebounds | 7 assists | 5 steals
• Rah-Rah Thompson - 13 points (5-10 FG, 1-1 3PT, 2-5 FT) | 13 rebounds | 4 assists | 2 steals

Emmanuel:

• Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda - 25 points (12-21 FG, 1-2 FT) | 11 rebounds | 3 assists | 2 steals
• Loredana D'Agostino - 20 points (9-18 FG, 2-5 FT) | 10 rebounds | 1 steal
• Riley Lahiff - 14 points (6-12 FG, 0-2 3PT, 2-2 FT) | 9 rebounds | 3 assists | 1 steal

DOUBLE-DOUBLES

• Albertus: Rah-Rah Thompson (13 points, 13 rebounds) 
• Emmanuel: Loredana D'Agostino (20 points, 10 rebounds), Yulesks Ramirez-Tejeda (25 points, 11 rebounds)

NOTEWORTHY

• This is the 30th meeting between Albertus and Emmanuel.
• Following tonight's win, Emmanuel (Mass.) is now 28-2 all-time against the Falcons.
• The Falcons are 8-2 at home. 
• Thompson collected her 17th double-double of the season. 
• Osmond has posted 30 or more points four times this season.
• Osmond was three-points shy of tying her career-best 41 points, which was recorded last season against Colby-Sawyer.
• Junior Andreah Orr (Danbury, Conn.) led the Falcons defensive unit with two blocks while Beatriz Honorio (Bridgeport, Conn.) posted one.
• Freshman Kyah Nowlin (Stamford, Conn.) and junior Cassie Couture (Waterbury, Conn.) finished the game with six points each. 

UP NEXT
The women's basketball team continues GNAC play with a home showdown against Saint Joseph's (CT) on Saturday February 15th at 1 PM.

Prior to Saturday's tip-off, the women's basketball team will be honoring its two member senior class – Shyla Osmond and Rah-Rah Thompson  - as part of Senior Day.