NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Diamond White (Hamden, Conn.) scored a game-high 23 points as the Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team led wire-to-wire in an 81-57 drubbing of Anna Maria College on Wednesday evening inside The Nest in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) tilt.

Caitlyn Scott (White Plains, N.Y.) scored 18 points, while Jakara Murray-Leach (Norwalk, Conn.) had 16 points and six rebounds. Natasha Rivera (Ansonia) led the game with 12 rebounds.

THE BASICS

FINAL: Albertus Magnus 81 | Anna Maria 57

RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (18-5, 10-2 GNAC) | Anna Maria (7-13, 2-8 GNAC)

BOX

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Amanda Zdru (Stratford, Conn.) hit a three to start the game followed by a layup from Scott to give the Falcons a 5-0 early lead. The defense did not allow a basket from Anna Maria until the 7:20 mark of the first quarter on a jumper from Arianna Saladini.
• The Falcons took a 16-8 lead after the first quarter as Murray-Leach scored five points in the quarter and the Falcons held the AMCATS to 21.1 percent shooting.
• The second quarter saw the Falcons open on a 9-2 run including a three from Sarah Evangelista (West Haven, Conn.) to lead 25-10 with 6:56 remaining. Anna Maria got to within 25-18 in which Saladini scored four of the eight points during the run. 
• Albertus allowed just two more field goals in the last 4:31 and outscored Anna Maria 13-7 during that time. Murray-Leach and White both added a three during the close of the half as Albertus led 38-25.
• White opened up the second half with a three that started a 22-6 run over the first six minutes of the third quarter as Albertus took a 60-31 lead. White scored eight of the points during the opening run and ten for the quarter. Murray-Leach had six in the quarter and Rivera and Scott each scored five. Albertus took a commanding 64-40 lead into the fourth.
• Antwanette Tann (Meriden, Conn.) scored seven points and made all three of her field goal attempts in the fourth quarter as the Falcons once again stifled the AMCATS on defense. Anna Maria shot just 26.3 percent in the fourth.

TEAM STATS

Albertus 43.5 FG% | 33.3 3PT% | 80.0 FT%

Anna Maria 29.6 FG % | 10.0 3PT% | 56.5 FT%

INDIVIDUAL PERFORMANCES

Albertus

• Diamond White 23 Points | 5 Rebounds 
• Jakara Murray-Leach 16 Points | 5 Steals | 6 Rebounds
• Caitlyn Scott 18 Points | 6 Assists
• Natasha Rivera 7 Points | 12 Rebounds

Anna Maria

• Marinique Reddin 17 Points | 10 Rebounds
• Kiara Gauthier 11 Points

NOTEWORTHY

• Albertus is now 16-4 all-time against Anna Maria and have won the last seven matchups. 
• It was the fifth time this season White has scored 20 or more points in a game. 
• Murray Leach is shooting 42.8 percent (6-14) from three over her last three games.
• It was the fourth wire-to-wire win for the Falcons this season.

UP NEXT

The Falcons play their final regular season road game as they head to Regis for a 1 p.m. tip on Saturday, February 10.