Falcons Shoot Past Women's Hoops 73-50

NEWTON, Mass. (2/6/15) – Lasell College fell to the visiting Falcons of Albertus Magnus 73-50 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) women's basketball action Saturday afternoon inside the Athletic Center Gym. With the setback the Lasers drop to 11-11 overall and 4-5 in conference play, while the Falcons jump to 14-7 this season and 6-2 in the GNAC.

STAT LEADERS FOR LASELL

Senior Katie Stopera (Hollis, N.H.) paced the Lasers with 14 points and five rebounds, while freshman Brianna Hoffman (New Mildford, N.H.) chipped in with nine points and two caroms. Sophomore guard Sherilyn Small (Springfield, Mass.) pulled five boards from the glass and added six points in the effort.

STAT LEADERS FOR ALBERTUS 

Sophomore forward Olivia Bolden (South Windsor, Conn.) registered a monster double-double of a game-high 34 points and 10 rebounds. Bolden connected on 10-of-16 shots from the floor to go along with 10-of-15 buckets from the free throw line with one three pointer. Senior forward Chelsea Sherrod (Bridgeport, Conn.) and sophomore guard Angelina Piccirillo (Naugatuck, Conn.) each contributed eight points apiece, with Sherrod turning a double-double with 14 boards.

HOW IT HAPPENED

With opening back-to-back threes from Stopera and Hoffman, the Lasers held an 8-2 advantage early in the first quarter. The Falcons pulled within one possession when Piccirillo connected on a deep three pointer (15-13) before putting away the go ahead jumped for an 18-17 lead. With momentum on their side, the Falcons opened the second quarter on a pivotal 11-0 run, highlighted by nine buckets from Bolden. Bolden then connected on a three-pointer joined by four points from junior guard Liz Falcigno (Wallingford, Conn.) for a ten point advantage, 38-28, heading into the halftime break. 

With five minutes left to go in the third, Lasell senior guard Deanna Barrett (Berlin, Conn.) added three points with a deep trio from freshman Jaime Caron (Derry, N.H.) to keep within the 10 point margin, 48-38. Both teams added 12 points apiece in the last quarter of play, however the Lasers couldn't catch up to the Falcons' lead for a final score of 73-50.

INSIDE THE BOX SCORE 

Albertus shot 42.6% from the field, 31.6% from three point range, and 71.4% from the free throw line in the victory. The Lasers took 61 field goals making just 16 for 26.2% overall, and connected on 6-of-28 shots from downtown. Sherrod and Bolden helped the Falcons to 53 rebounds compared to Lasell's 33, and grabbed 19 points from the second chance opportunity.

WHAT'S NEXT 

Both teams will play a non-conference test for their upcoming contest, as the Lasers head to Pine Manor on Tuesday, February 9 at 5:00 p.m., while the Falcons host Coast Guard Academy on Monday, February 8 at 7:00 p.m.