NEW HAVEN, Conn. - In the first tilt of the 2020-21 season, the Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team fell in a valiant effort against Fisher College, 53-50. Sophomore Kyah Nowlin (Stamford, Conn.) led the Falcons' offensive unit with 14 points and seven rebounds, while Emma Pierson (Branford, Conn.) and Alexis Pendziwater (East Haven, Conn.) scored nine points each.

Along with Pendziwater, Caitlyn Scott (White Plains, N.Y.), Natasha Rivera (Ansonia, Conn.), and Amanda Zdru (Stratford, Conn.) all made their collegiate debuts in tonight's bout. Junior Ashley Burke (Putnam, Conn.) also suited up for the first time for the Falcons tonight, coming to the school after two seasons at UConn Avery Point.

GAME NOTES
FINAL SCORE: Fisher College 53 | Albertus Magnus College 50
MATCH-UP: This is the first meeting between the two programs.
LOCATION: New Haven, Conn. | "The Nest"
BOX SCORE

HOW IT HAPPENED

Fisher opened the game hot, going on a 7-0 run out of the gates on Misha O'neil and Shaniah Hazard's baskets. Rivera got the Falcons on the board with a layup, before Fisher went on a short 4-0 spurt to bring the score to 11-2 with just over four minutes left in the opening quarter. The Falcons went on a 7-2 run to bring the score to 13-9 before the teams traded baskets to end the quarter at 15-12.

Pierson opened the second period with a long 3-pointer to deadlock the score at 15-all. Fisher retaliated and went on a 6-2 run to bring the score to 21-17 with just over seven minutes to play in the half. A made jumper by Fisher's Katie Salas increased the visitor's lead to 23-19 before Pierson cashed in on an and-one layup to bring the hosts to within one, 23-22. A Fisher layup brought its score to 25 before Nowlin tied the game with a long 3-pointer. The teams traded baskets for the rest of the half, with Nowlin netting another trey to send the teams into the half, Fisher holding a 31-30 advantage.

Albertus roared into the second half defensively, locking down the Fisher offense for the first four minutes of the quarter and holding the visitors scoreless. Nowlin then netted her third 3-pointer of the night, sending the blue-and-white ahead, 33-31, with just under seven minutes to play in the third. Fisher responded with a 4-0 burst before Scott tied the game at 35-all with a layup. Fisher retaliated with a 6-0 run to end the quarter with the score at 41-35 in favor of the visitors.

Fisher opened the fourth quarter on a 4-1 run, bringing the score to 45-36 on Salas and Celine Altamirano's baskets. Pendziwater drained back-to-back 3-pointers with just over five minutes remaining in regulation to bring the hosts within seven, 49-42, with four minutes remaining, sparking an Albertus comeback. A Nowlin free throw and Rivera layup brought the hosts within one 49-48 with just two minutes remaining. Two free throws for Fisher brought the score to 51-48 before another score by Nowlin brought the hosts to within one, 51-50, with a minute remaining. Alexia Mason of Fisher tacked an insurance layup to seal the 53-50 victory for the visitors.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Albertus:
Kyah Nowlin - 14 points (5-12 FG, 3-7 3PT, 1-2 FT) | 7 rebounds | 1 assist | 2 steals | 1 block
Emma Pierson - 9 points (3-13 FG, 1-7 3PT, 2-3 FT) | 5 rebound | 1 assist | 5 steals | 1 block
Alexis Pendziwater - 9 points (3-8 FG, 3-7 3PT) | 1 steal
Caitlyn Scott - 6 points (2-4 FG, 0-2 3PT, 3-9 FT) | 3 rebounds | 3 assists, 2 steals
Natasha Rivera - 7 points (2-8 FG, 0-3 3PT, 3-5 FT) | 2 rebounds | 3 assists

Fisher:
Alexia Mason - 16 points (7-8 FG, 2-3 FT) | 14 rebounds
Shaniah Hazard - 10 points (2-12 FG, 1-3 3PT, 5-6 FT) | 17 rebounds | 3 assists | 3 steals | 1 block