WBB Falls to Albertus Magnus

NEW LONDON, Conn. – Mitchell College tipped off the new year with a 79-58 loss to Albertus Magnus College on Saturday afternoon in non-conference women's basketball action at the Yarnall Athletic Center.

The Falcons won their fifth straight game to improve to 12-1 on the season. Jill Johnson led all scorers with 23 points and added four assists and four steals to pace the visitors, who shot 42 percent for the contest. Shyla Osmond contributed 17 points, eight rebounds and four assists while Rah Rah Thompson recorded a double-double of 11 points and 10 boards. Raegon Shirling-Davis rounded out the AMC players in double digits with 10 points.

Kelsey Hernandez led Mitchell (5-5 overall) with 14 points and eight rebounds. Amina Wiley turned in a double-double of 12 points and 12 rebounds and added three steals, and Le'Sandra Turner chipped in 10 points and six boards. Marissa Sweeney came off the bench to contribute nine points and eight rebounds.

Albertus Magnus used an early 8-0 run to grab the lead and never looked back. Johnson, who attacked the basket for much of the game, supplied six points during the stretch and had 12 in the quarter.

The Falcons led by six after one period and extended the margin to double digits by halftime. Johnson amassed 17 points before the break as Albertus Magnus led 41-31 at intermission.

AMC put the game away with a big third quarter, outscoring Mitchell 20-9 en route to a 61-40 lead heading into the final period. The Falcons also forced nine turnovers in the stanza and limited the Mariners to just 21-percent shooting.

Mitchell, which trailed by as many as 23 in the fourth quarter, cut the deficit to 17 behind an 8-2 stretch that included threes by Sweeney and Hernandez. That would be as close as the Mariners would get, however, as the Falcons cruised to the finish. Osmond and Shirling-Davis combined for 16 points in the second half to fuel the AMC offense.

Mitchell will next host Elms College on Tuesday, January 8 at 6 p.m. Albertus Magnus returns to action at home against Anna Maria College on Tuesday at 5 p.m.