MELISSA GRAY
NEW HAVEN, CONN. – Six-foot junior center Rah-Rah Thompson scored 28 points, grabbed 31 rebounds and blocked six shots to lead Albertus Magnus College to a 99-90 win over Westfield State in a non-conference women’s basketball game in New Haven, Conn., on Wednesday night.
Westfield (3-4) trailed 46-37 at the half.
The Owls rallied in the third quarter as the pace appeared to take its toll on the Falcons. Westfield trimmed the lead to 67-66 late in the quarter and had a chance to take the lead, but the Owls’ Taina Slaughter could not connect on a pair of free throws. The Falcons held on to a slim 72-70 lead heading to the fourth quarter.
AMC (5-2) extended its lead to 80-70 lead in the first 2:05 of the fourth quarter, maintaining an advantage throughout as the officials escorted the Falcons to the foul line 28 times in the fourth quarter alone. Albertus connected on 14-22 free throws in the first six minutes of the fourth, extending its lead to as many as 14 points, 90-76, on a pair of free throws by Cassie Couture with 4:48 to play.
Westfield State got back-to-back three-pointers from Chelsea Mousette and Cayla Durkee to slash the lead down to 94-88 with 2:05 left in regulation but could get no closer.
Overall, the Falcons shot 27-46 at the free throw line, compared to the Owls’ 16-31.
Westfield forced 40 AMC turnovers that the Owls converted into 34 points, but the size advantage was displayed as the Falcons outrebounded Westfield 83-43, and got 35 second-chance points to the Owls’ nine.
Thompson’s huge night was complimented by 19 points and 22 rebounds from fellow six-footer Andreah Orr, and point guard Shyla Osmond contributed 25 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists.
Westfield was led by 16 points, five rebounds and five steals from Melissa Gray. Moussette added 13 points, seven assists and seven steals. Isabella Aitken 11 and Siobhan Moriarty 10 for the Owls.
The Owls were 15-56 from behind the arc, tying the school record for attempts (which was set last year against the Falcons), and finished 31-104 from the floor.
The Owls will be back in action at the Woodward Center on Saturday with a noon tip against the Sage Colleges (NY). – Courtesy of Westfield State University Sports
