Thursday, January 17, 2013 (Newton, Massachusetts) - Despite a game-high 22 point performance from Mount Ida College women's basketball senior guard and Captain Evebonee Acosta (Hartford, CT/Bullkeley), the Mustangs dropped their third straight Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) bid against visiting Albertus Magnus College falling 71-48 Thursday evening in Newton, Massachusetts in the back end of a double header with the men's team.
The hosts fall in an overall record of 6-9 and are still journeying for a league victory while the Falcons collect their first GNAC win of the season going 11-3 for the year, 1-2 in conference action.
It was a sloppy start on both sides with only a combined 10 points scored through the first seven minutes of the first half with Albertus Magnus ahead 7-4 after a good three pointer by freshman guard Timisha Graham (Bridgeport, CT/Central).
The Falcons surged ahead by 19 points through the next 10 minutes up 36-17 following a good trifecta by freshman guard Laruen Piroscafo (Naugatuck, CT/Naugatuck).
Albertus Magnus would head into the locker room continuing to hold a 19 point (38-19) advantage capped on two successful shots from the charity stripe by junior guard Nicle Acerra (East Haven, CT/Hillhouse).
The visiting lead would grow to 22 points through the opening nine and a half minutes of the second stanza (53-31) after a good lay-in by Falcon freshman forward Chelsea Sherrod (Bridgeport, CT/Stratford).
Mount Ida would eventually fall behind by a game-high 25 points with about five minutes left in the contest capped on a successful free throw from junior guard Lianna Carrero (Hamden, CT/Hamden).
AMC would ultimately close out their first GNAC win of the season downing the hosting Mustangs 71-48 for the Mustangs third league loss of the year.
Along with a solid individual performance from Acosta, Mount Ida sophomore guard Allison O'Connor (Leominster, MA/Leominster) notched eight points and four rebounds respectively. Host sophomore forward Jenn Rafuse (Brockton, MA/Brockton) notched seven points and eight caroms as well.
Carrero led the visitors with 14 points on 4-13 shooting going 5-6 from the charity stripe while Sherrod notched 13 with eight rebounds. Senior forward/center Kendrea Walker (New Haven, CT/Hillhouse) added 12 points and seven rebounds to aid in the victory.
Mount Ida women's basketball will head to GNAC member and neighboring rival Lasell College this coming Saturday with tip-off coming at 2:00 p.m. The Falcons will head to Emerson College with the men's team the same day in Boston, Massachusetts in GNAC action starting at 1:00 p.m.