NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Sophomore forward Liz Brasa (East Hartford, Conn.) netted 18 points to lead the Simmons College women's basketball team in an 81-56 loss to host Albertus Magnus College this afternoon in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference game in New Haven, Conn. The Sharks fall to 4-10 overall and 0-2 in league play, while the Falcons improve to 7-9 and 2-3.
Brasa fueled a 15-4 run with 10 points to pull Simmons to within 52-50 with 8:48 showing on the second half clock. Albertus Magnus responded by reeling off 14 unanswered points as part of a 23-3 run over the next six-plus minutes, led by nine points from first year forward Olivia Bolden (South Windsor, Conn.), to take a 75-53 advantage with 1:55 left to play in the game before coming away with the win.
The first half saw seven lead changes and seven tie scores between the teams. Sophomore forward Ashley McAdams (Freeport, N.Y.) made a lay-up with 12:33 to go in the opening half to give the Sharks a 12-10 lead, but the Falcons scored the next nine points over the next three minutes to take a 19-12 lead with 9:32 remaining in the half. Simmons outscored the home team, 17-7, over the next nine minutes, paced by eight points and two-three pointers from junior guard Jennifer Janiak (Chelmsford, Mass.), to claim a 29-26 margin with 31 ticks left in the first period. First year guard Kiarra Epps (Norwalk, Conn.) converted a layup and junior guard Olivia (Wallingford, Conn.) sank a pair of free throws to give Albertus Magnus a 30-29 edge at halftime.
Brasa later completed a three-point play with a free throw following a layup to retake the lead for the Sharks at 33-32 with 18:16 to left in the second half, but 16-2 stretch, led by six points from Bolden, gave the Falcons a 48-35 cushion at the 14:08 mark of the second half.
Brasa added six rebounds, a pair of blocked shots and an assist to her day for Simmons, while Janiak finished with 13 points, including 3-4 from three-point range to go with two assists and a rebound. McAdams chipped in with eight points, five rebounds and an assist off the bench and sophomore point guard Jamie Zoldy (Watertown, Conn.) scored six points, handed out six assists, grabbed four rebounds and blocked a shot.
Bolden posted a double-double with a game-high 23 points and 15 rebounds to lead Albertus Magnus in addition three assists and a steal. Epps scored 21 points to go with four rebounds, two assists, a steal and a block and Sutherland ended with 10 points, six assists, five boards, three steals and a block.
The Sharks will return to the court on Saturday, January 24 when they host GNAC foe Rivier University at 3:00 p.m. at Moore Gymnasium, while the Falcons return to action on January 21 when they host Mount Saint Mary College (N.Y.) at 7:00 p.m.