WEST HARTFORD, Conn. - Ariellys Velez (Watertown, Conn.) scored a career-high 35 points as the Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team bested their in-state rival, the University of Saint Joseph (Conn.) in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) showdown Tuesday night, 70-56. 

Velez shot 13-for-21 from the field, including 3-for-4 from three. She also added five rebounds and three assists.

Adriana DeBernardo (Stratford, Conn.) and Ava Johnson (North Haven, Conn.) each had a double-double on the evening. DeBernardo finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds, while Johnson had 10 points and 11 rebounds.

THE BASICS 

FINAL: Albertus 70 | USJ 56 

RECORDS: Albertus (4-16, 3-4 GNAC) | USJ (7-14, 5-3 GNAC) 

BOX

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Falcons got on the board first 1:14 into the first quarter as DeBernardo found the basket for a layup. The Blue Jays answered with a three-pointer from Sequoia Turcotte Briggs. Velez then got her impressive night started with a made layup while also drawing the foul for a three-point play. Johnson then made a layup and Dajahlee Dogans (Bloomfield, Conn.) made a layup after a steal from Johnson to give Albertus the 9-5 lead just over halfway through the quarter. Albertus closed the last three and a half minutes of the quarter on an 11-1 run to lead 20-8. 
• Albertus jumped out to a 33-14 lead over seven minutes into the second quarter as Velez hit two threes while Brooklyn Gonzalez (Shelton, Conn.) hit one during the pivotal stretch. The Falcons took a 35-22 lead into halftime as Velez scored 10 of the team's 15 points in the frame.
• Velez scored the first four points for the Falcons in the second half, as they took a 39-25 lead over a minute into the third quarter. Albertus led 43-28 until an 8-2 run by USJ cut the Falcons' lead to single digits a Turcotte Briggs scored five points during the run. Five straight free throws, including four from Isabella Fiorillo (West Haven, Conn.) put the Falcons back up 50-36. Velez scored six of the last eight points for Albertus in the quarter as it took a 58-43 lead into the fourth.
• USJ scored the first four points of the fourth quarer, but a three-point play by DeBernardo started an 8-0 run for the Falcons which put them ahead, 66-48. Albertus was never threatened the rest of the way, holding on for the 14-point win.

TEAM STATS 

Albertus 

40.3 FG% | 23.8 3PT% | 50.0 FT% 

USJ 

29.7 FG% | 30.0 3PT% | 57.7 FT% 

TOP PERFORMERS 

Albertus 

Ariellys Velez 35 PTS | 5 REBS | 3-4 3PT  | 13-21 FG

Adriana DeBernardo 12 PTS | 10 REBS | 4 BLKS

 Ava Johnson | 10 PTS | 11 REBS | 5 STLS 

USJ 

Sequoia Turcotte Briggs 21 PTS | 3 REB 

Nevaeh Yorke 11 PTS | 11 REB 

Ella Kulas 11 PTS | 8 REB

NOTEWORTHY

Johnson's 11 rebounds set a new season-high. Her five steals are a new career-high.

The Falcons improved to 32-10 overall against rival USJ. 

DeBernardo now has a double-double in four straight games.

UP NEXT 

The Falcons return home to The Nest on Saturday, Feb. 7 for more GNAC play as they host the Rivier University Raiders at 1 p.m.