STANDISH, Me. - The Albertus Magnus College women's basketball team lost, 80-53 to Saint Joseph's College (Maine) in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) semifinals on Friday evening.

Ariellys Velez (Watertown, Conn.) led all scorers with 32 points to go with eight rebounds.

Adriana DeBernardo (Stratford, Conn.) had nine points and six rebounds.

THE BASICS

FINAL: SJC 80 | Albertus 53

RECORDS: Albertus (9-18) | SJC (17-10)

BOX

HOW IT HAPPENED

• The Falcons trailed 8-4 early on, but nine straight points from Velez, including two layups, put the Falcons ahead, 13-8. Hayden Madore made a layup to tie the game for SJC and Madison Lebel hit a three to give the Monks a 16-13 lead. Ava Johnson (North Haven, Conn.) made a layup on the ensuing possession, but another layup from Madore before the first quarter buzzer gave the Monks the 18-15 lead going into the second quarter.
• A three-point play from DeBernardo early in the second quarter trimmed the Albertus deficit to 23-21 at the 7:14 mark. However, the Monks finished the quarter on an 8-0 run to take a 31-21 lead into halftime.
• SJC opened the first five minutes of the second half on a 18-2 run to take a 46-23 lead capped by a three from Abby Dube. Velez scored all 13 points for the Falcons in the third quarter as they trailed 54-34 going into the fourth quarter. Dube and Elisabeth Stapelfeld each had five points for the Monks in the quarter.
• The Monks were able to put the game away in the fourth, opening up a 27-point lead after a three from Logan Brown. Velez had seven points in the quarter, while DeBernardo had four points and Isabella Fiorillo (West Haven, Conn.), three.

TEAM STATS

Albertus

33.9 FG% | 30.0 3PT% | 63.2 FT%

SJC

42.4 FG% | 32.0 3PT% | 75.9 FT%

TOP PERFORMERS

Albertus

Ariellys Velez 32 PTS | 11-21 FG | 8 REBS

Adriana DeBernardo 9 PTS | 6 REBS

SJC

Madison Lebel 15 PTS | 25 REBS

Logan Brown 14 PTS | 4 REBS