FARMINGDALE, N.Y. - Jakara Murray-Leach (Norwalk, Conn.) and Ava Johnson (North Haven, Conn.) each notched double-doubles for the Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team as it picked up its first win of the season, defeating Farmingdale State, 75-69 on Saturday afternoon in a non-conference game.

Murray-Leach finished with 13 points and a team-high 12 rebounds while Johnson scored a career-high 19 points with 11 rebounds for the Falcons. Caitlyn Scott (White Plains, N.Y.) also chipped in with 16 points. 

The Falcons scored 53 points in the second half, rallying from an 18-point deficit.

THE BASICS

FINAL: Albertus Magnus 75 | Farmingdale State 69

RECORDS: Albertus (1-1) | Farmingdale State (2-2)

BOX

HOW IT HAPPENED

• In a low scoring first quarter, the Falcons had just one field goal over the first six minutes and trailed 14-8 after the first ten minutes. Johnson had four points to pace the Falcons early on.
• Over the course of the first seven minutes of action in the second quarter, the Rams outscored the Falcons 16-4 to take a 30-12 lead as Gemma Pohalski and Taneece Wooden each had five points early on. Albertus was able to trim the deficit to 32-22 by halftime as Johnson scored six points over the final three minutes while Hannah Barrientos (East Hampton, Conn.) chipped in four points off the bench.
• The Rams kept the double digit lead over halfway into the third, but a layup and free throw from Amanda Zdru sparked an 18-7 run to close out the quarter over the final 4:34. A combination of Scott and Diamond White (Hamden, Conn.) went 6-for-8 from the free throw line to make it a 47-44 game, followed by a layup from Scott to cut the Albertus deficit to 47-46. After Anayah Lloyd made it a 49-46 advantage for the Rams, Barrientos tied the game with a three-pointer with 47 seconds left as the teams went into the fourth tied, 49-49.
• Elizabeth Bruno (Providence, R.I.) kicked off the fourth with a three-pointer, followed by a layup from Johnson to give Albertus the 54-49 lead. A traditional three-point play by Pohalski tied the game back up at 55-55 with 7:39 left.
• After the Rams took a brief 58-57 lead, Bruno and Pohalski traded threes and the Rams went back up by one point at 61-60. An offensive rebound and layup from Johnson put Albertus back up 62-61 with 5:33 left. A jumper from Scott and Johnson put the Falcons back up, 67-63, but the Rams answered with the next four points, including a jumper from Brianna Amenta that made it a 67-67 game.
• Two free throws from white and a steal and layup from Murray-Leach put Albertus up 71-67 with 2:31 remaining. The Rams got back to within two points, but the Falcons went 4-for-4 down the stretch from the free throw line to secure the win.

TEAM STATS

Albertus

40.4 FG% | 12.5 3PT% | 86.7 FT%

Farmingdale State

29.2 FG% | 33.3 3PT% | 80.8 FT%

LEADERS

Albertus

Ava Johnson 19 Points | 11 Rebounds | 6-9 FG

Jakara Murray-Leach 13 Points | 12 Rebounds | 3 Steals | 3 Blocks

Caitlyn Scott 16 Points | 6-7 FT | 3 Steals

Farmingdale State

Gemma Pohalski 20 Points | 9 Rebounds

Taneece Wooden 14 Points | 11 Rebounds

NOTEWORTHY

There were 12 ties and 10 lead changes

Albertus dominated points in the paint, 30-18.

Albertus won the battle of the boards, 47-41.

UP NEXT

The Falcons travel to Amherst for a non-conference game on Tuesday, November 19 at 5:30 p.m.