Lady AMCATS Power Past Albertus Magnus

Anna Maria College senior Taylor Walker hit a clutch hoop with 55 seconds remaining as the AMCATS  rose to victory in the final seconds of tonight's contest as the Albertus Magnus women's basketball team was edged by the AMCATS 74-72 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) play.

With the win, Anna Maria moves to 7-8 on the year and evens their record to 1-1 in league action, while the loss gives the Falcons their 12th on the year to drop to 3-12 overall and 0-2 in the GNAC standings.

The Falcons led in the second have by four at 70-66 with 3:12 left in regulation but Anna Maria battled back and took a 73-72 lead with seconds left and never looked back.

After a missed AMCAT free throw, the Falcons gained possession of the ball but a turnover gave the ball right back to the visiting team.  A made free throw by junior Katie Pryor capped the night to give Anna Maria a two-point lead.

Albertus led 37-31 at the half thanks to 16 points by senior Lianna Carrero (Hamden, Conn.).  The Falcons, as a team, shot 44.4% in the frame to go into the break with the lead.  After the score was tied at 27, a 6-0 Albertus run in a span of 2:35 helped extend its lead into the intermission.

The second half saw play go back-and-forth and the AMCATS came away with the come-from-behind victory.

On the night, Anna Maria shot 47.2% and hit seven of its 14 three-point field goal attempts.  Albertus shot 42.1%, including a 31.2% showing from behind the arc.

Four of Anna Maria's five starters scored in double figures with Deja Taitt leading the way with 22 points, seven assists, three steals and three rebounds.  She was 8-of-14 from the floor.  Taylor Walker added 17 points and seven rebounds for the AMCATS.

Carrero finished the game with 36 points and five rebounds.  She was 4-of-8 from three-point land and was 10-of-11 from the charity stripe.  Annie Raucci (Milford, Conn.) added a double-double with 10 points and 12 rebounds, while Kelsey Pendagast (Shelton, Conn.) chipped in with five points and six boards.

Aaliyah Bohannon (Bridgeport, Conn.) tallied four points, three rebounds, and three blocked shots off the bench for the Falcons.  Olivia Sutherland (Wallingford, Conn.) added a 4-of-5 showing from the field for nine points in 19 minutes of work.

Albertus will host the College of New Rochelle on Saturday, Jan. 18 in a non-conference match-up. Game time is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. Anna Maria is back in action on Monday afternoon when they host Simmons College at 2:00 p.m.

Release courtesy of Albertus Magnus College Sports Information Department