NEW HAVEN, Conn. - Ariellys Velez (Watertown, Conn.) scored 23 points, leading the Falcons to their second Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) win in a row as they defeated the Cadets of Norwich University, 69-65 on Saturday afternoon in The Nest.

Velez hit three three-pointers on the day, adding seven rebounds, five assists, and four steals. Adriana DeBernardo (Stratford, Conn.) earned her fifth double-double of the season with 17 points and 11 rebounds—she also added four assists, two steals, and a block. Ava Murphy (West Haven, Conn.) grabbed a team-high 10 rebounds in the win.

THE BASICS 

FINAL: Albertus Magnus 69 | Norwich 65 

RECORDS: Albertus Magnus (3-15, 2-3 GNAC) | Norwich (7-9, 3-1 GNAC) 

BOX

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Norwich scored the first basket of the game, but Isabella Fiorillo (West Haven, Conn.) quickly responded with a three, giving the Falcons their first lead of the game. The teams traded scoring throughout the first quarter, but two made free throws from Ava Johnson (North Haven, Conn.) and a three from Fiorillo gave the Falcons a 16-15 lead after one. 
• A free throw by Norwich's Kiley O'Brien and a layup from Cassidy Kittredge put the Cadets back in front, but Fiorillo's third three-pointer of the game gave the Falcons a 19-18 edge at the 7:53 mark of the second quarter. The game was tied again just 31 seconds later following a free throw from Maggi Ellsworth. The two teams continued to trade baskets throughout the quarter, until Ellsworth hit a three to give the Cadets a 33-28 advantage. Dejahlee Dogans (Bloomfield, Conn.) answered with a three-pointer and a layup, evening the score at 33-33 at halftime.
• DeBernardo came out firing to open the third quarter, scoring two layups and adding a free throw to give the Falcons a five-point lead, 38-33. Kittredge answered for the Cadets, knocking down a three to trim the deficit to 38–36. The Falcons responded when Johnson finished a layup and Velez followed with a three and a driving layup to push the advantage to 45–36. Both teams traded baskets down the stretch, but Velez capped the quarter with a layup in the final 20 seconds, allowing the Falcons to carry a seven-point lead into the fourth.
• Three points from Velez and a free throw from DeBernardo pushed the Falcons ahead to a ten-point lead, their largest of the game, at 59-49. The game remained tight for the Falcons as they fought to hold the lead, and a made layup from Velez gave the Falcons a five-point coushin at the 1:21 mark. The Cadets found a way to tie the game once again, as Gracie Laster hit a three to make it 65-65 at the :35 second mark. After DeBernardo grabbed an offensive rebound and was fouled, she knocked down two free throws to give the Falcons a two point lead. A missed Norwich layup and offensive rebound by Johnson gave the Falcons the edge, and as the ball landed into the hands of Dogans, she was fouled. Dogans hit her final two free throws, making the final score 69-65 in favor of the Falcons. 

TEAM STATS

Albertus 

34.2 FG% | 32.1 3PT% | 71.4 FT% 

Norwich 

36.2 FG% | 26.5 3PT% | 75.0 FT% 

TOP PERFORMERS 

Albertus 

Ariellys Velez 23 PTS | 7 REBS

Adriana DeBernardo 17 PTS | 11 REBS

Isabella Fiorillo 12 PTS | 6 REBS

Ava Murphy 10 REBS

Norwich

Maggi Ellsworth 26 PTS | 11 REBS

Gracie Laster 10 PTS | 5 ASTS

Cassidy Kittredge 9 PTS | 8 REBS

NOTEWORTHY

• DeBernardo earned two double-doubles in a row, her fifth this season. 
• Murphy is averaging 7 rebounds per game in conference play. 

UP NEXT

The Falcons head to GNAC opponent Saint Joseph's (Me.) on Saturday, January 31st for a 1:00 p.m. tip.