Women's Basketball Wins Fifth-Straight; Downs Mount Ida 82-57
Mount Ida (8-4, 1-2) 13 14 11 19 57
Albertus Magnus (8-3, 2-1) 23 20 20 19 82
Photo by: Ron Waite/Photosportacular
Pts: Valerie Martin - 19
Reb: Valerie Martin - 18
Ast: Valerie Martin - 4
Pts: 2 Players (#03, #23) - 24
Reb: Olivia Bolden - 21
Ast: Raegon Shirling-Davis - 6
New Haven, Conn. – Senior Olivia Bolden (South Windsor, Conn.) and junior Jill Johnson (North Haven, Conn.) of the Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team netted a team-high 24 points apiece as the Falcons defeated Mount Ida, 82-57, Tuesday evening in GNAC play.
FINAL SCORE: Albertus Magnus 82 | Mount Ida 57
RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (8-3, 2-1) | Mount Ida (8-4, 1-2)
Albertus Magnus opened the game with a three-point lead, 10-7, behind four straight three-pointer from Johnson four minutes in. The Falcons then went on an 8-0 run to push their lead to double-digits, before finding themselves ahead 21-9 with 3:42 remaining in the first. Both teams traded baskets and the Mustangs would trail by 10, 23-13, entering the final 10 minutes of the half.
The Falcons continued their run into the second and with 3:35 left on the clock the hosts took its biggest lead of the half, 37-18, on a layup from Bolden. Mount Ida would head into the locker room trailing the hosts 43-27.
Mount Ida continued to chip away at the Falcons' lead and brought the score to within 13, 48-35, at the 4:16, but Albertus Magnus scored 16 of the quarter's final 21 points to take a 63-38 cushion that held up over the last 10 minutes of action.
The Falcons were just two rebounds shy of tying their season-high of 62.
Following tonight's win, the Falcons are 3-1 at home.
Albertus Magnus is currently fourth in the GNAC standings along with Johnson & Wales who also have a conference mark of 2-1.
With today's win, the Falcons are now 10-5 against the Mustangs in the all-time series.
INSIDE THE NUMBERS
Albertus Magnus – 40.8% (field goal), 20% (three-point) and 52.0% (free throw)
Mount Ida – 27.0 % (field goal), 9.1% (three-point) and 55.6% (free throw)
Bolden also collected her 10th double-double of the season behind a season-best 21 rebounds, two assists, two steals and 24 points.
Johnson recorded an impressive game as the junior forward shot 61.5% from the field and 50 percent from behind the arc to go along with six rebounds, three assists and four steals.
The Falcons out rebounded the Mustangs by a 60-53 edge and posted a 14-10 advantage in second chance points.
Mount Ida was led by Valerie Martino who posted a double-double, 19 points and 18 rebounds, on 6-of-20 shooting from the field and 7-of-12 shooting from the free throw line.
This GNAC contest saw four lead changes while the Falcons held their largest lead of the game, with 27, with two minutes remaining.
Both teams posted 15 offensive rebounds each.
In the first period alone, Johnson scored 15 of her 24 points while shooting over 80 percent from the floor and three point range.
Over the final 10 minutes of play, Albertus Magnus and Mount Ida totaled 19 points each.
Albertus Magnus returns to action against Rivier University on Thursday, Jan. 11 at 5 p.m. Mount Ida also will resume play on Thursday against Emmanuel (Mass.).