NEW YORK, N.Y.- The Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team lost a nail-biter to the Bloodhounds of John Jay College on Tuesday night in non-conference play by a final score of 53-49. Diamond White (Hamden, Conn.) led the Falcons offensively with 11 points, while Natasha Rivera (Ansonia, Conn.) contributed 14 rebounds and nine points.

THE BASICS
Final: John Jay 53 | Albertus Magnus 49
Records: Albertus Magnus (0-4) | John Jay (3-2)
Box Score

HOW IT HAPPENED
The Falcons roared out of the gate early, taking a 7-2 advantage over the first 3:40 of play. Rivera nailed a long 3-pointer to open the first stanza, while Tamara Sigler (Yonkers, N.Y.) and Caitlyn Scott (White Plains, N.Y.) each added a lay-up. John Jay battled back with a 5-0 run to tie the game at 7-all, before the Falcons returned the favor with their own 6-0 run to retake the lead 13-7, with 3:45 remaining in the first half. The Bloodhounds closed out the first stanza with an 8-2 run to tie the game at 15-all, heading into the second quarter.

John Jay opened the second quarter on a 4-0 run before Katherine Raposo (Warwick, R.I.) swooshed a 3-pointer to make it a one-point game, 19-18, in favor of the hosts. The Bloodhounds responded with a 5-0 push to make it a six-point game, 24-18, until a Raposo jumper and a pair of Rivera free throws cut the deficit to two, 24-22, with a minute remaining. The Bloodhounds closed out the half with four unanswered points to send the teams into the halftime break, with the hosts holding a 28-22 lead.

The Bloodhounds opened the third quarter with a 6-0 run to take a 12-point lead, 34-22, three minutes in. The Falcons retaliated with their own 6-0 run to make it a 34-28 game, with four remaining four minutes in the third quarter. The teams traded baskets for the remainder of the third quarter, with the Bloodhounds taking a 38-34 lead into the final quarter.

The teams opened the fourth quarter trading baskets through the first three minutes of play, with the Bloodhounds retaining their four-point advantage, 42-38. The teams continued trading baskets into the final two minutes of regulation, with the Bloodhounds holding a 48-44 lead. A Rivera lay-up brought the Falcons to within two, 48-46, with 1:14 left on the clock. However, the Bloodhounds went on a quick 4-0 surge to make it a 52-46 game with 25 seconds left on the clock. A White 3-pointer cut the deficit in half, 52-49 in the final seconds, but the Falcons could not complete the comeback, falling to the Bloodhounds by a final score of 53-49.

TEAM STATS
Albertus: 25.3% FG | 10.7% 3PT | 54.5% FT
John Jay: 30.5% FG | 0% 3PT | 53.1% FT

KEY PERFORMERS
Albertus:
Diamond White - 11 points (5-16 FG, 1-6 3pt) | 5 rebounds | 1 steal
Natasha Rivera - 9 points (3-19 FG, 1-7 3PT, 2-4 FT) | 14 rebounds | 1 assist | 4 blocks | 2 steals

John Jay:
Bobbi Green - 17 points (6-20 FG, 0-2 3PT, 5-8 FT) | 9 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 steal
Katie Healy - 15 points (5-14 FG, 0-1 3pt, 5-12 FT) | 18 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 block | 5 steals
Ashley Zeolla - 11 points (4-8 FG, 3-6 FT) | 7 rebounds | 3 assists | 2 blocks | 1 steal

NOTEWORTHY

• Albertus' all-time record against John Jay now stands at 5-4.
• Rivera had a career-high 14 rebounds.
• White notched her third double-digit scoring outing in her first four games with the Falcons.
• Jakara Murray-Leach (Norwalk, Conn.) tallied a season-high eight points.
• Raposo dished out a season-best four assists.

UP NEXT
The Falcons will retake the court after the Thanksgiving holiday on Wednesday, Dec. 1st, when they travel to New London, Conn., for an away contest against Coast Guard Academy. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m. inside the Merriman Gym, located within Roland Hall.