BOSTON, Mass. - Despite three double-digit scorers, including a team-high 18 points from Jakara Murray-Leach (Norwalk, Conn.), the Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team fell on the road to the Saints of Emmanuel College by a final score of 72-60 on Saturday afternoon inside the Jean Yawkey Center.

Along with Murray-Leach, teammates Diamond White (Hamden, Conn.) and Natasha Rivera (Ansonia, Conn.) finished in double-figures with 15 and 10 points, respectively. 

THE BASICS
Final: Emmanuel 72 | Albertus Magnus 60  
Records: Albertus Magnus (4-8, 3-2) |  Emmanuel (11-1, 5-1)
Box Score

HOW IT HAPPENED

The Saints jumped out to an early 9-4 lead 3:48 into the first quarter. Caitlyn Scott (White Plains, N.Y.) got the Falcons on the board first behind a made lay-up and a pair of free throws, before the Saints retaliated with three jumpers and a lay-up. Murray-Leach cut the deficit to 9-6 with her own lay-up, but the Saints battled back with a 4-0 push to make it a 13-6 game with just under five minutes remaining in the first quarter.

A White three-pointer at the 4:42 mark sparked a 10-2 run that saw the Falcons take their second lead of the day, 16-15, with just under two minutes left to play in the first. During the run, Rivera scored four points, while Murray-Leach drained a long shot from behind the arc. Shortly after, the Saints regained the lead, 17-16, but a pair of made free throws from White regained the one-point lead for the visitors, 18-17, heading into the second quarter. 

The Falcons continued to apply pressure, racing out of the gate with a 5-2 run to take a 23-19 lead at the 7:30 mark. A Murray-Leach three-point jumper and a lay-up from Katherine Raposo (Warwick, R.I.) provided the spark for the Falcons. The Saints retaliated quickly, going on a 7-0 push to retake the lead once more, 26-23, at the 5:49 mark and forcing Albertus to call a timeout to regroup. 

Out of the break, the Falcons and Saints traded baskets, with Scott and Amanda Zdru (Stratford, Conn.) each finding the net for the visitors. With the clock ticking down to its final seconds, neither team was able to score and the teams headed into the halftime break with the Saints holding a narrow five-point lead, 32-27.  

The Saints burst out of the halftime break quickly, going on a 4-0 run to start the quarter. Murray-Leach got the Falcons on the board in the third with a three-point jumper at the 8:21 minute mark to keep the deficit close, 36-30. The Saints cobbled together a 6-0 run to take a commanding 12-point lead, 42-30, with 7:27 remaining in the third.

The teams traded baskets for the next few minutes, with the Saints emerging with a 47-33 lead. The Falcons finished the quarter strong, going on a 12-8 run to keep the deficit at 10, 55-45, heading into the final frame. 

A quick 7-0 burst to start the fourth quarter was all the Falcons needed to climb right back into the game. A White lay-up and a three-point play from Scott brought the Falcons to within five, 55-50, with 7:48 remaining in regulation. Raposo followed soon after with a pair of made free throws to cut the deficit to three, 55-52, but the Saints responded with their own 5-2 push to take a 60-54 lead into the final five minutes of play. 

The Saints continued to pile on the pressure in the final few minutes, putting together a 12-4 run to take a 72-60 lead into the final minute. White and Murray-Leach continued to score for the Falcons, as the duo combined for four points in the final two minutes. The offensive surge wasn't enough to overcome the Saints, however, and the Falcons fell by a final score of 72-60. 

TEAM STATS

• Albertus: 36.1 % FG | 19.4 % 3PT | 62.5 % FT
• Emmanuel: 45.5 % FG | 35.7 % 3PT | 77.8 % FT

KEY PERFORMERS
Albertus:

• Jakara Murray-Leach - 18 points (6-23 FG, 4-17 3PT, 2-2 FT) | 2 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 steal | 2 blocks
• Diamond White - 15 points (6-15 FG, 1-6 3PT, 2-2 FT) | 3 rebounds | 2 assists
• Natasha Rivera - 10 points (4-11 FG, 1-5 3PT, 1-5 FT) | 5 rebounds | 3 assists | 1 steal | 1 block 

Emmanuel:

• Loredana D'Agostino - 14 points (7-9 FG, 0-1 FT) | 12 rebounds | 3 assists | 1 steal 
• Riley Lahiff - 12 points (6-11 FG) | 5 rebounds | 6 assists | 1 steal 
• Yannie Chan - 11 points (5-12 FG, 1-2 3PT) | 5 rebounds | 5 assists | 2 steals
• Jamad Fiin - 10 points (3-11 FG, 2-3 3PT, 2-2 FT) | 7 rebounds | 6 assists

NOTEWORTHY

• This is the 31st meeting between the Falcons and Saints.
• Following today's win, Emmanuel (Mass.) extends its all-time series record to 29-2.
• Murray-Leach led the defensive attack with two blocks.
• Zdru posted a season-high five steals.
• Scott tied her season-high in assists with seven.
• Murray-Leach and White have scored in double-figures in the last six games.

UP NEXT
The Falcons return to action on Tuesday, Jan. 18th with a road conference showdown against the Blazers of Elms College. Tip-off is set for 7PM in Chicopee, Mass.