Box Score

Boston, MA -- The Simmons’ Women’s Basketball team (1-1 GNAC, 9-5 overall) used an 18-0 run in the second half to prevail 53-50 over host Suffolk University (8-6 overall, 2-2 GNAC) Monday afternoon at Regan Gymnasium.

Stephanie Fox led Simmons with 22 points and ten rebounds as she shot 11-17 from the field. Sarah Clayton had 11 points and Lauren Kreckie reached double figures in scoring with ten points for the Sharks.

Meghan Tracey (Rehoboth, MA) led the Rams with 14 points and 15 rebounds on 7-16 shooting.

Both teams struggled in the first half, as they combined for 45 missed shots. Suffolk fell behind 8-5 early in the half, but an 18-2 run over a ten minute span helped the Rams lead 26-18 at halftime.

Suffolk continued its sharp play early in the second half as an Andorra Salaices’ (Franklin, MA) three-pointer gave the Rams a 33-20 lead with 16:47 remaining in the game. Salaices finished with six points, four rebounds and four assists.

Simmons responded with the 18-0 run in the next five minutes to take a 38-33 lead midway through the second half. Unfortunately for the Rams, Simmons never trailed for the remainder of the game, as it held a one point lead on six different occasions in the last ten minutes.

A Clayton three from the corner put Simmons ahead 49-45 with just under three minutes remaining. Freshman Julianne Conrad (West Bridgewater, MA) answered with her only three of the game 11 seconds later to cut Simmons’ lead to 49-48. Conrad finished the game with seven points.

Fox gave Simmons a 51-48 lead with one minute on the clock, but Tracey responded with a short jumper to make it a 51-50 game 16 seconds later.

Two clutch free-throws from Julianna Eagles put the Sharks in front 53-50 with 37 seconds remaining. Eagles finished her afternoon with eight points. After Aubree Giarrosso couldn’t convert on a free-throw attempt, Suffolk got the ball back with 19 seconds left.

Tracey missed a jumper with seven seconds, but Emily Duquette kept Suffolk’s hopes alive with a huge offensive rebound. Duquette quickly kicked the ball out to Conrad for a look at a three to tie the game at the buzzer, but Conrad’s shot fell wide left of the rim.

Suffolk takes on rival Emmanuel College on the road Wednesday night in a rematch of last year’s GNAC title game.