FARMINGDALE, N.Y. - The Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team opened its 2022-23 season with a convincing 85-71 road victory over the Rams of Farmingdale State in non-conference play on Saturday afternoon inside the Walter A. Lynch Sports Center.
Jakara Murray-Leach (Norwalk, Conn.) led all players with 29 points scored, while Caitlyn Scott (White Plains, N.Y.) and Diamond White (Hamden, Conn.) chipped in with 21 and 10 points, respectively. Natasha Rivera (Ansonia, Conn.) also had a stellar opening game for the blue-and-white, as the junior forward put up eight points and led the team with 10 rebounds.
THE BASICS
Final: Albertus Magnus 85 | Farmingdale State 71
Records: Albertus Magnus (1-0) | Farmingdale State (0-3)
Box Score
HOW IT HAPPENED
• The teams traded baskets over the opening eight minutes before the Rams took an 11-7 lead after a pair of made free throws with 1:59 remaining in the first.
• The Falcons stormed back with a 6-2 run to close out the quarter and knotted the score at 13-all, with Murray-Leach cashing in with a pair of made lay-ups.
• Both teams erupted out of the gate to start the second half, as the squads battled back-and-forth over a 6-4 run in the opening minute to make it a 19-18 game. Robin Selitte (Bridgeport, Conn.), Amanda Zdru (Stratford, Conn.), and Murray-Leach put in lay-ups for the blue-and-white.
• The Rams retaliated with a 7-0 push to take a 25-19 lead with just under seven minutes to play in the half.
• The teams continued to battle for the next few minutes before AMC put together a 5-0 spurt on a Rivera three-pointer and a pair of Scott free throws to trim the deficit to three, 31-28.
• With 2:15 remaining in the quarter, Scott struck again, firing off a shot from downtown that tied the game at 31-all.
• The Rams responded with a 5-0 push to close the half with a 36-31 lead heading into the break.
• AMC kicked off the third quarter with their own 5-0 push to re-tie the game at 36-all.
• Both offenses continued their back-and-forth battle until the seven-minute mark, as a made free throw from Murray-Leach ignited a 7-0 run that pushed the Falcons ahead 45-38.
• A 4-0 push by the Rams cut the score to 45-42, but the Falcons responded with another short spurt that gave the visitors a nine-point advantage, 51-42.
• Albertus held a three-point lead, 58-55, over the Rams heading into the final 10 minutes of regulation.
• AMC opened the fourth with a 5-0 spurt to take a 63-55 advantage.
• The teams traded baskets for the rest of the game, and the Falcons never relinquished their lead, holding on for an 85-71 road victory over the Rams.
TEAM STATS
Albertus: 39.4% FG | 9.5% 3PT| 77.1% FT
Farmingdale State: 35.2% FG | 26.7% 3PT| 65.4% FT
PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS
Albertus:
Jakara Murray-Leach - 29 points (12-25 FG, 0-6 3PT, 5-7 FT) | 9 rebounds | 1 assist | 5 steal
Caitlyn Scott- 21 points (4-18 FG, 1-8 3PT, 12-16 FT) | 4 rebounds | 6 assists
Diamond White- 10 points (3-10 FG, 0-4 3PT, 4-5 FT) | 2 rebounds | 3 assists | 1 steal
Farmingdale State:
Layla Mendoza - 28 points (10-22 FG, 1-3 3PT, 7-11 FT) | 7 rebounds | 1 steal | 2 blocks
Tiffany Sosa - 12 points (3-3 FG, 6-6 FT) | 2 rebounds | 1 steal | 1 block
Victoria Kantzian - 12 points (3-6 FG, 2-3 3PT, 4-6 FT) | 5 rebounds | 4 assists | 2 steals
NOTEWORTHY
• Today marked the ninth all-time meeting between the Falcons and the Rams.
• With the win, Albertus leads the all-time series 6-3.
• The Falcons won the battle on the glass, 50-43.
• Murray-Leach scored 20+ points for the 12th time in her career.
• Rivera notched 10+ rebounds for the eighth time in her career.
• The Falcons opened their season with a win for the first time since the 2018-19 campaign.
UP NEXT
The Falcons return to the court on Thursday, November 17th, as the blue-and-white challenge the Golden Bears of Western New England University in non-conference action at the Anthony S. Caprio Alumni Healthful Living Center. Tip-off is set for 7 PM.
