SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -  Despite four double-digit performances from Caitlyn Scott (White Plains, N.Y.), Natasha Rivera (Ansonia, Conn.), Jakara Murray-Leach (Norwalk, Conn.), and Amanda Zdru (Stratford, Conn.), the Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team suffered its first loss of the season, falling on the road to No. 11 Springfield College, 79-65, Wednesday evening in non-conference play inside Blake Arena.

Scott paced the Falcons' offense with 24 points to go with three rebounds, an assist, and four steals, while Rivera and Murray-Leach followed up with 11 points each. Zdru rounded out the double-digit scorers with 10 points. 

THE BASICS
Final: #11 Springfield 79 | Albertus Magnus 65
Records: Albertus Magnus (7-1) | #11 Springfield (9-1)
Box Score

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Rivera got things started for the Falcons as the junior forward ignited an 8-2 run that gave the visitors the early lead two minutes in. 
• The Pride countered the Falcons' opening spurt with a 9-3 run that brought the score to within one, 12-11, with 4:19 remaining in the first quarter.
• Five unanswered points from Diamond White (Hamden, Conn.) pushed the Falcons' lead back up to six, 17-11, but a Springfield three from Kayla Madden sparked an 8-0 rally that gave the hosts their first lead of the game, 19-17, with just under two minutes left to play in the first. 
• The final minute of the opening quarter saw the Falcons tie the game at 19-19 following a layup from Scott. Springfield's Lindsey Laughlin struck back quickly with a buzzer-beating layup to give the hosts the two-point advantage, 21-19. 
• Springfield picked up momentum in the second quarter, outshooting the Falcons 16-2 and pushing its lead up to 16, 37-21, with 2:06 left in the frame.
• Following a scoreless drought, Albertus found its rhythm and closed out the stanza trailing by seven, 39-32, following an 11-2 run, highlighted by six points from Scott and a made three-pointer from Zdru.
• The Pride's seven-point lead dwindled to one, 41-40, as the Falcons opened the third quarter with an 8-2 run ignited by a Zdru jumper 30 seconds in. 
• Springfield's offense began to pick up steam and extended its lead to double-digits, 54-42, forcing Albertus to call a timeout with 3:57 remaining in the third.
• Albertus and Springfield would go on to trade baskets, with the Pride leading by 13, 59-46, heading into the final 10 minutes of play. 
• The teams traded baskets for the first few minutes of the fourth quarter before a lay-up from Zdru and a jumper from Murray-Leach cut the deficit to nine, 64-55. 
• Albertus and Springfield continued to battle offensively, countering each made basket with another, as the Falcons trailed by seven, 69-62, with 3:07 left to play. 
• Unfortunately for the Falcons, Springfield put together a 10-3 push to close the game, handing AMC a hard-fought 79-65 setback.     

TEAM STATS
Albertus: 38.5 % FG | 20.8 % 3PT | 62.5 % FT
Springfield: 45.5 % FG | 36.0 % 3PT | 76.9 % FT

PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS

Albertus:
Caitlyn Scott - 24 points (8-20 FG, 0-5 3PT, 8-11 FT) | 3 rebounds | 1 assist | 4 steals 
Jakara Murray-Leach - 11 points (5-16 FG, 1-5 3PT) | 7 rebounds | 2 assists | 2 blocks | 3 steals
Natasha Rivera - 11 points (4-11 FG, 1-5 3PT, 2-5 FT) | 9 rebounds | 4 blocks  
Amanda Zdru - 10 points (4-5 FG, 2-3 3PT) | 5 rebounds 

Springfield:
Kayla Madden - 27 points (10-21 FG, 5-9 3PT, 2-3 FT) | 10 rebounds | 5 assists | 1 block 
Sam Hourihan - 25 points (9-19 FG, 3-8 3PT, 4-4 FT) | 14 rebounds | 4 assists | 2 blocks 
Rachel Vinton - 10 points (5-10 FG, 0-3 3PT) | 7 rebounds | 5 assists | 3 steals 

NOTEWORTHY

• Following tonight's setback, the Falcons are now 3-1 all-time against Springfield.
• Scott recorded her second straight game with 20+ points. 
• Zdru recorded a season-high 10 points in tonight's contest. 
• Rivera put together her fourth game of the season with 10+ points. 
• Sharaya Keele (Adams, Mass.) tallied her third multi-rebound game of the season with two boards.    

UP NEXT
The women's basketball team plays its final game of 2022 on Saturday, Dec. 17, when it hosts inter-state foe Mitchell College inside "The Nest". The opening tip-off between the Falcons and Mariners is set for 1 PM.