Women's Basketball Falls Short Against Albertus Magnus

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NEW LONDON, Conn. - The Mitchell College women's basketball team dropped a 67-64 decision to Albertus Magnus College on Tuesday night at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

The Mariners (0-3 overall) had a chance to tie before the final horn but came up short. Albertus Magnus (2-6 overall) held Mitchell to 30 percent shooting for the game. Shanalya Bush led three Falcons in double figures with 17 points while Nikki McClease notched a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 15 boards. Sophomore Destiney Harris and junior Alix O'Neil each scored 12 points to lead Mitchell.

Albertus Magnus led the entire first half despite shooting just 33 percent from the floor. The Falcons led by as many as 14 points in the stanza before the Mariners clawed back into the game. A three-pointer by junior Brittany Smyth with 50 seconds to play pulled Mitchell to within 28-21, which would be the score at the halftime intermission.

The Mariners took their first lead of the game with 8:10 remaining on a three-pointer by junior Allison Peck. Harris later added a pair of free throws to put Mitchell up 51-47, capping a 10-1 run by the home team. Peck provided a pair of treys during the stretch while Harris accounted for the rest.

The Falcons responded with five straight points-including a pair of buckets from Krystal Bryant-to take back the lead at 52-51 with 5:50 to play. The next 2:30 would feature four ties and two lead changes, but Albertus Magnus took the lead for good on a layup by Bush with 3:07 to go.

The Mariners hung around until the final second. Bush missed a pair of free throws to ice the game and gave the Mariners a final shot at a tying three-pointer. Mitchell drew up a sideline inbounds play with one tick left on the clock, but Peck's desperation three was off the mark.

Harris added 12 rebounds to record her first double-double of the season. Senior Jennifer Iglesias and Peck each finished with nine points while Smyth added seven.

Bryant finished with 13 points and seven rebounds for the Falcons, who shot 43 percent for the game. Albertus Magnus committed 28 turnovers but held a 47-40 edge in rebounding.

Mitchell returns to action on Saturday, December 5 at home against Johnson & Wales University. Tip-off is scheduled for 1 p.m.