WBB Falls Short in Season Opener at Albertus Magnus

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The Mitchell College women's basketball team opened the 2015-16 season with a 61-50 loss at Albertus Magnus College on Saturday afternoon at the Nest inside the Cosgrove Marcus Messer Athletic Center.

Freshman Deja Ward scored a team-high 16 points to lead the Falcons. She knocked down 5-of-8 shots from the field in her collegiate debut, highlighted by three shots from beyond the arc. Senior Amanda Garcia came off the bench to pace the Mariners with a game-high 21 points.

For the second straight season, the Falcons topped the Mariners in the season opener for both squads. Albertus never trailed in the contest and led by as many 16 in the fourth quarter. With the rule changes implemented by the NCAA this season, women's basketball games now consist of four 10-minute quarters as opposed to two 20-minute halves.

The Falcons jumped on the visitors during the first stanza, outscoring the guests 17-6 and forcing eight turnovers. Albertus Magnus held Mitchell to just 2-of-10 shooting from the field in the opening quarter while knocking down seven of its 18 shots. The Falcons began and ended their scoring in the frame with three-pointers as senior guard Olivia Sutherland gave the hosts a 3-0 lead on the first possession of the game, and sophomore Angelina Piccirillo hit a trey with 15 seconds left in the quarter to give Albertus an 11-point edge.

In the second quarter, Mitchell clawed its way back into the game and outscored AMC 15-13. Midway through the frame, a layup from senior Diamond Thomas pulled the visitors to within four at 20-16. The Falcons responded with a quick 7-0 run capped by a jumper from senior forward Kelsey Pendagast to once again build a double-digit lead. Heading into the break, a pair of buckets from Thomas in the final minute made it a nine-point game in favor of the hosts at 30-21 at the half.

The Falcons and Mariners traded baskets in the third quarter with each team scoring 16 to give Albertus Magnus a 46-37 lead with 10 minutes left in regulation. Back-and-forth the two in-state rivals went in the frame with the guests unable to pull within less than eight.

It was the same story in the fourth quarter, as the visitors could not go on a scoring run to make it close. After a slow start from the free throw line, Albertus Magnus hit all six of its attempts in the fourth to hold on for the victory.

Offensively, Ward poured in 16 for Albertus, while Sutherland and sophomore Olivia Bolden also scored in double figures. Sutherland had 13 points thanks to hitting three shots from three-point range to go along with three assists and two steals. Bolden, the reigning GNAC Rookie of the Year, netted 15 points and pulled down seven rebounds. In the post, Pendagast hold a solid game for the hosts, scoring six points and grabbing a game-high eight rebounds.

Garcia's 21 points came on 10-of-12 shooting from the field in 28 minutes of action, and she also pulled down six rebounds. Joining Garcia in double figures for the Mariners were Thomas (10 points) and junior guard Jessica Shepherd (11 points), and freshman Kate McCormack contributed a game-high nine assists in her collegiate debut. 

Mitchell will next host the University of Saint Joseph on Thursday, November 19 at 6 p.m.