NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Behind a double-double from Jakara Murray-Leach (Norwalk, Conn.) and a 20-point showing from Caitlyn Scott (White Plains, N.Y.), the Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team emerged victorious over the Blazers of Elms College, 73-58, in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) battle on Wednesday night inside "The Nest". 

Along with Murray-Leach and Scott, Diamond White (Hamden, Conn.) and Amanda Zdru (Stratford, Conn.) also scored in double-figures for the Falcons, with White netting 18 points and Zdru sinking 11. Natasha Rivera (Ansonia, Conn.) also had an excellent game for the Falcons, scoring nine points with seven rebounds, an assist, two steals, and six blocks.   

THE BASICS
Final: Albertus Magnus 73 | Elms 58        
Records: Albertus Magnus (20-3, 15-2 GNAC) | Elms (9-15, 4-13 GNAC)  
Box Score

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Falcons started with the hot hand, racing out to an 8-2 lead over the first 3:55 of play.

• The Blazers struck back with a 6-2 push to make it a 10-8 game before Rivera nailed paydirt from beyond the arc to increase AMC's lead to five, 13-8, with 3:50 remaining in the first stanza.  
• Elms roared back with a 5-0 push to tie the game at 13-all until five unanswered points from Murray-Leach sent the teams into the second quarter with the Falcons up 18-13. 
• AMC continued to score, putting together an 11-5 run to start the second frame, as Zdru scored seven points to push Albertus' advantage to 29-18. 

• A defensive battle ensued for the next two minutes before the Falcons erupted for an 8-0 surge to extend their lead to 37-18. 
• The Blazers retaliated with a late surge, but the Falcons held the 37-26 advantage at the half. 
• A 5-2 run from Elms opened the third quarter before White swooshed a three-pointer to give the Falcons the 42-31 lead. 

• Following a quick 4-2 push from the Blazers, the Falcons put together an explosive 15-5 run to extend the lead to 19, 59-40, heading into the fourth and final quarter. 

• A back-and-forth battle between Albertus and Elms started off the fourth before the Falcons strung together an 8-0 run to expand the lead to 73-46. 
• A pair of Blazers free throws at the 2:47 mark halted Albertus' run and sparked an 11-0 surge from Elms that cut the blue-and-white's lead to 15, 73-58.
• The comeback was not to be, as the clock expired and gave the Falcons their 20th victory of the season and cemented their fourth 20+ win campaign in program history.       

TEAM STATS
Albertus: 43.8% FG | 36.8% 3PT | 52.6% FT
Elms: 35.6% FG | 31.8% 3PT | 56.3% FT 

PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS

Albertus:
Caitlyn Scott - 20 points (7-20 FG, 2-6 3PT, 4-5 FT) | 5 rebounds | 1 assist | 2 steals 
Diamond White - 18 points (8-13 FG, 2-3 3PT, 0-1FT) | 3 rebounds | 2 assists | 1 steal
Jakara Murray-Leach - 13 points (5-12 FG, 1-4 3PT, 2-6 FT) | 11 rebounds | 3 assists | 3 steals    
Amanda Zdru - 11 points (3-6 FG, 1-4 3PT, 4-5 FT) | 3 rebounds | 1 assist | 1 steal        

Elms:
Kayla Jackson- 18 points (7-11 FG, 4-4 FT) | 7 rebounds | 2 assists | steals | blocks    
Rahmia Johnston- 11 points (3-9FG, 3-7 3PT, 2-6 FT) | 12 rebounds | 3 assists | 1 steal | 1 block    

NOTEWORTHY

• Tonight's game was the 14th all-time meeting between the Falcons and Blazers. 
• After tonight's win, Albertus holds a 13-1 lead in the all-time series. 
• White scored 15+ points for the 9th time this season. 
• Murray-Leach recorded her 13th double-double of the season. 
• Scott tallied 20+ points for the 15th time this season. 

UP NEXT

The women's basketball team returns to action on Saturday, Feb. 18, as the Falcons take on GNAC rival Lasell University in their regular-season finale. Tip-off is set for 1:00 PM inside "The Nest".