With an 86-53 non-conference victory over Becker College on Tuesday night, the Albertus Magnus women's basketball team improved to 5-0 on the year to mark the best start in program history for the Falcons, besting their 4-0 start last season.

Lianna Carrero (Hamden, Conn.) recorded a game-high 24 points for her fifth-straight double-figure scoring effort of the season as she added three steals and six rebounds to that tally. Carrero led the Falcons' second-half charge as she scored 18 of her 24 points in that frame, leading the Falcons to a 52.6-percent showing in the second half.

Both Annie Raucci (Milford, Conn.) and freshman Kelsey Pendagast (Shelton, Conn.) registered double-doubles to aid in the Falcons fifth-straight win. For Raucci, it was her first double-double of the season and her third game of the year with 10 or more points. Pendagast, who has been dominant in the paint for the Falcons this season, pulled down 11 boards to go along with 10 points.

The Falcons opened tonight's contest with a 10-0 run thanks to eight quick points by junior Lindsay Karle (Wallingford, Conn.) but the Hawks (0-4) battled back and tied the contest at 12 apiece at the 11:47 mark of the first half. Becker took its first lead of the contest with 10:49 on the clock when Gabrielle Gallo finished on a fast-break lay-up to give the Hawks a 16-15 advantage. After the first 20 minutes of play, Becker held a 26-23 edge in rebounds, while the Falcons tallied 16 of their 37 points off 12 Becker miscues.

Karle led all scorers with 15 first-half points.

After going into the break with a 10-point lead at 37-27, Becker opened the second frame with two quick buckets before Albertus took control of the game. Albertus put together a commanding 25-2 run, capped by a three-pointer by Karle, to take a 79-44 lead with less than five minutes remaining in regulation. That 35-point advantage proved to be the Falcons' largest lead of the game.

Karle finished the game with 18 points for her fifth-straight game in double-figures as well.

Tatiana Mojica and Gallo each had 14 points to lead the Hawks, while Mojica grabbed a team-high eight rebounds in the loss.

Albertus will host Bay Path College on Saturday, Dec. 3 in a 3:00 p.m. contest. The game was originally scheduled to be played at Bay Path but has been moved to New Haven and will serve as the Falcons' second home game of the year.