NEW LONDON, N.H. - The Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team sent a statement in their opening Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) game, defeating Colby-Sawyer, 80-57 on Saturday afternoon.
Jakara Murray-Leach (Norwalk, Conn.) led the Falcons with 24 points on 11-for-14 shooting while grabbing ten rebounds for a double-double. Caitlyn Scott (White Plains, N.Y.) had 19 points and eight assists and Diamond White had 16 points and six assists.
The Falcons used another big third quarter, outsourcing the Chargers, 30-7 en route to the win. 

THE BASICS
FINAL: Albertus Magnus 80 | Colby-Sawyer 57
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (6-3, 1-0 GNAC) | Colby-Sawyer (1-6, 0-1 GNAC)

BOX

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Colby-Sawyer scored the first five points of the game, including a three from Elyza Mitchell. The lead didn't last long, as Albertus scored the next seven - four of the points coming from Natasha Rivera (Ansonia, Conn.) - to take a 7-5 lead.
• The Chargers scored on the next possession to tie the game, but a 13-0 run, fueled by seven points from Scott gave Albertus the commanding 20-7 lead with 3:41 remaining in the first quarter.
• Albertus took a 29-16 lead into the second quarter behind Scott's three three-pointers.
• The Falcons led by as much as 16 at 36-20 as Elizabeth Bruno hit a three to open the scoring for the Falcons. 
• The Chargers went on an 8-0 run to cut their deficit to 36-28 as four different players hit field goals during the run. Albertus allowed just two more points over the last 4:45 of the half and took a 42-30 lead into halftime.
• Just 2:26 into the second half the Falcons already increased their lead to 53-32 as Murray-Leach scored six and Scott, five to give Albertus its biggest lead at the time.
• After a timeout by the Chargers, the Falcons didn't stop scoring, continuing their run to take a 64-32  lead with 3:43 left in the period.
• The Falcons suffocated the Chargers on the defensive end, giving up just seven points and not allowing a point during the final 2:37. Albertus scored the final eight points to take a 72-37 lead into the fourth.
• In the fourth, the Chargers trimmed their deficit to 22 points at 77-55 but never got closer the rest of the way.

TEAM STATS
Albertus Magnus: 47.2 FG% | 100 FT% | 20.0 3PT%
Colby-Sawyer: 34.3 FG% | 83.3 FT% | | 4.2 3PT%

INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES
Albertus Magnus
Jakara Murray-Leach 24 Points 10 Rebounds | 11-14 FG
Caitlyn Scott 19 Points | 8 Assists | 3/8 3PT
Diamond White 16 Points | 6 Assists | 3 Steals

Colby-Sawyer
Catherine Chick 16 Points 6 Rebounds
Courtney Brewster 11 Points | 8 Rebounds
Elyza Mitchell 11 Points | 8 Rebounds 

NOTEWORTHY

• Albertus forced 18 turnovers, leading to 29 points.
• It is the 6th time the Falcons have eclipsed 80 points in a game this season.
• The Falcons' 21 assists tied a season-high.

UP NEXT
The Falcons finally return home to host Wesleyan on Wednesday, December 6 at 7 p.m.