NEW HAVEN, Conn. - The Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team dropped their season-opener to the Golden Bears of Western New England University by a final score of 67-60 Tuesday evening inside "The Nest".

Freshman Diamond White (Hamden, Conn.) paced the Falcons' attack with 13 points, while Natasha Rivera (Ansonia, Conn.), Katherine Raposo (Warwick, R.I.), and Caitlyn Scott (White Plains, N.Y.) finished with 11 points each.

THE BASICS
Final: WNE 67 | Albertus Magnus 60
Records: Albertus Magnus (0-1) | WNE (1-2)
Box Score

HOW IT HAPPENED
The first quarter was tightly contested, as neither team built a lead greater than six throughout the first 10 minutes. Rivera gave the Falcons a 6-4 lead with 6:18 left before the Golden Bears answered with a 10-2 run over the next 4:53. Albertus rallied behind two White free throws to take a 14-10 deficit into the second quarter.

The Golden Bears added to their lead early on in the second, with an Emma Kahn trey with 6:54 left, giving the visitors a 24-12 advantage. The Falcons quickly chiseled away at the deficit with two Raposo layups and buckets by Rivera and White comprising an 8-0 surge. Albertus kept the margin to within eight for the rest of the period, cutting it to as low as one, 32-31, with 31 seconds remaining. A jumper 10 seconds later sent the visitors into the halftime break up 34-31.

The start of the third mirrored the end of the second quarter, as both teams traded baskets for much of the play. The Falcons continued their comeback attempt, evening the score at 44-44 after a Rivera 3-pointer with 5:28 left. A defensive battle ensued over the next 2:15, with the Golden Bears coming out of it with a 47-44 advantage. The Falcons answered with a 7-3 run over the next 2:34 to take its first lead of the second half, 51-50. However, this advantage was short-lived, as WNE hit a late layup to go into the fourth ahead 52-51.

A Scott layup to start the fourth was quickly answered by the Golden Bears. The game continued to stay close through the first four minutes, with Raposo hitting a trey at the four-minute mark to cut it to one, 57-56 WNE. Unfortunately for Albertus, it was at this point that the visitors started to pull away. The Golden Bears ended the game on a 10-4 push to send the Falcons home with a 67-60 season-opening loss.

TEAM STATS
Albertus: 39.7% FG | 10.0% 3PT| 50.0% FT
WNE: 41.4% FG | 33.3% 3PT| 65.0% FT

PLAYER HIGHLIGHTS
Albertus:
Diamond White- 13 points (5-16 FG, 0-3 3PT, 3-4 FT) | 1 rebound | 3 assists | 2 steals                                 
Katherine Raposo- 11 points (5-9 FG, 1-3 3PT, 0-1 FT) | 5 rebounds | 1 steal
Caitlyn Scott- 11 points (5-16 FG, 0-4 3PT, 1-3 FT) | 4 rebounds | 1 assist | 2 steals
Natasha Rivera- 11 points (5-9 FG, 1-4 3PT) | 1 rebound | 2 assists | 1 steal | 1 block

WNE:
Grace Fisher- 20 points (7-10 FG, 6-10 FTM) | 13 rebounds | 3 assists | 2 blocks
Abby Garaban- 12 points (4-10 FG, 2-3 3PT, 2-2 FT) | 4 rebounds | 1 assist | 2 steals

NOTEWORTHY

• This is the 16th meeting between the two programs.
• The all-time series between the two teams is now tied at eight games apiece.
• Freshmen Sharaya Keele (Adams, Mass.), Jakara Murray-Leach (Norwalk, Conn.), Jaelynn Mitchell (West Haven, Conn.), Jayda Sanchez (Ansonia, Conn.), Tamara Sigler (Yonkers, N.Y.), and White all made their collegiate debuts in tonight's game.
• Raposo and Carsyn Langhorn (Norwalk, Conn.) also donned the blue-and-white for the first time tonight.

UP NEXT
The women's basketball team returns to the court this weekend as the Falcons take part in the Courtyard by Marriott Tournament at Wesleyan University. The Falcons will face Sage on Friday, Nov. 19 at 8 PM, before battling Hartiwck on Saturday, Nov. 20 at 12:30 PM in Middletown, Conn.