Women's Basketball Clinches Playoff Spot, Downs Falcons 81-68
| Final | 1 | 2 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Albertus Magnus (11-14, 4-7 GNAC) | 35 | 33 | 68 |
|
Anna Maria (10-15, 5-6 GNAC) | 35 | 46 | 81 |
PAXTON, Mass.—The Anna Maria College women's basketball team overcame a 15-point first-half deficit and outscored the visiting Falcons of Albertus Magnus College by 13 points in the second half en route to an 81-68 win in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Saturday afternoon.
With the win, the AMCATS seal the seventh-seed in the 2015 GNAC postseason tournament. It marks the first time the AMCATS have qualified for the postseason since the 2001-02 season. The team improves to 10-15 overall and 5-6 in league action, while the Falcons fall to 11-14 overall and 4-7 in GNAC play.
Anna Maria had six different players reach double-digits in the scoring column, led by sophomore Christina Gauvin (Dudley, Mass.) with a game-high 26 points on a 10-14 effort from the floor. Senior Trafficia Warburton (Worcester, Mass.) recorded her 15th double-double of the season with 12 points and 13 rebounds.
Freshman Kristina Russo (South Windsor, Conn.), sophomore Deja Taitt (Jamaica, N.Y.) and senior Katie Pryor (Whitinsville, Mass.) all scored 11 points each, while sophomore Emily Capstick (Worcester, Mass.) scored 10 points off the bench.
The Falcons were paced by Olivia Bolden (South Windsor, Conn.) with 19 points. Junior Kelsey Pendagast (Shelton, Conn.) and freshman Kiarra Epps (Norwalk, Conn.) chipped in with 14 and 10 points, respectively.
The Falcons took advantage of a slow AMCAT offense to quickly build a double-digit lead, taking a 15-point, 24-9 lead at the 10:15 mark of the first half. The AMCATS got up to speed at that moment, and used a 7-0 run to come within eight, 24-16, at the 7:43 mark.
Another Anna Maria run under the five-minute mark would bring the AMCATS within three points, at 28-25. With 1:53 on the clock, Anna Maria tied the score at 30-30. Following a brief three-point AMCAT lead, the Falcons tied it up again, sending both teams to the locker room deadlocked at 35-35.
The AMCATS scored the first basket of the second half and did not look back, as they never trailed in the second frame and used a 51.7 percent effort from the floor to build a 13-point lead.
Anna Maria's second-half shooting percentage was a big improvement from the first half, where the team shot at 40.6 percent. The Falcons shot at 43.8 percent in the first half, but fell to 35.7 percent in the second half.
The AMCATS held a 42-28 advantage in points in the paint and outscored Albertus Magnus 23-14 in points off turnovers. The Falcons bested the AMCATS 19-12 in second-chance points and held a 14-10 advantage in bench points.
Prior to the game, Anna Maria honored seniors Warburton and Pryor for their contributions to the program.
Anna Maria will travel to No. 2 Norwich on Tuesday for the GNAC Quarterfinals at 7:00 p.m. Albertus Magnus, the eighth seed, will also be in action on Tuesday at No. 1 Emmanuel.
