Falcons Fly Past Vikings 81-54

SALEM, Mass. – Rah-Rah Thompson (Bridgeport, Conn.) poured in a game-high 23 points with 16 rebounds and six blocks as Albertus Magnus defeated Salem State 81-54 on Saturday afternoon at Twohig Gymnasium.  Shyla Osmond (New Haven, Conn.) also added a double-double of 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Falcons who improve to 9-2. The Vikings slide to 3-7 on the year.

Thompson and Osmond combined for 17 points and 12 rebounds in the first half as the Falcons built a 37-18 halftime lead. The Falcons took a 20-13 first quarter lead, taking advantage of 11 Salem State turnovers. A Courtney Paschal (Waltham, Mass.) bucket gave the Vikings a 10-9 lead, but four points by Thompson and a three by Katherine Raposo (Warwick, R.I.) helped Albertus Magnus exit the quarter with a seven-point lead.  

Despite shooting just 5-22 (22.7%) in the second quarter, the Falcons were able to extend their lead as their defense limited Salem State to just five points in the second on 2-18 (11.1%) shooting. Albertus Mangus outscored the Vikings by 12 points, pushing the lead to 19 points late in the period.

Osmond continued her hot hand into the third quarter, scoring eight points as Albertus Magnus extended their lead. A Sammara Streater (Hamden, Conn.) three gave the Falcons, who shot 11-24 (45.8%) in the quarter, a 31-point advantage, 67-36 heading into the fourth.  The Falcons dominated in the paint outscoring Salem State 34-10 while outrebounding the Vikings 52-37. Paschal led Salem State with 10 points while Nicole Freddo (Marblehead, Mass.) contributed nine.

Albertus Magnus stayed comfortably in front in the fourth. A Streater three put the Falcons up 70-38 with 9:07 remaining before settling for an 81-54 victory. Once again, the Falcons held Salem State below 25% shooting, 4-17 (23.5%) in the quarter.  Albertus Magnus finished 29-78 (37.2%) from the floor and held a 65-48 rebounding advantage.

Kyah Nowlin (Stamford, Conn.) added 13 points while Raposo and Andreah Orr (Danbury, Conn.) each had 10 points as all five starters reached double figures for the Falcons.

Freddo topped the Vikings with 13 points while Paschal added 10 points. Mia Crawley (Hyannis, Mass.) and Liz Zaiter (Peabody, Mass.) – nine points, each had eight rebounds apiece. Salem State ended the game 16-72 (22.2%) from the field.