BOSTON – Suffolk women's basketball was edged out by its Boston Commons' neighbor as Emerson defeated the Rams, 59-53, Tuesday night at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 53 | Emerson 59
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-2) | Emerson (1-0)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Gabriella DeComo had a response for each of the Lions opening points as the junior made a layup and sunk a triple to keep the game deadlocked at five apiece 2:38 into the action.
See-saw action remained over the first frame that saw Emerson hold an 18-15 edge after the first 10 minutes.
Jenni-Rose DiCecco took matters into her own hands to begin the second stanza as she hit six straight points, three freebies and one trey to put the blue-and-gold ahead by three, 21-18.
Quinn Madden answered for Emerson and Sam Boyle gave the visitors the advantage on their next possession, 22-21. That distance grew to six, 31-25, with less than 30 seconds to play before half time, a margin that stood as the team's headed to the locker rooms.
Out of the intermission, a Suffolk spurt trimmed the deficit down to three, 33-30, at the midway point of the third quarter. That was the closet the blue-and-gold would get, however, as the Lions lead was intact at the end of 30 minutes, 41-35.
Emerson outscored Suffolk, 7-4, in the first few minutes of the final frame to grab a 48-39 cushion that blossomed to double figures, 52-41, with just over five minutes remaining in regulation.
Suffolk flew behind by 12, twice, before it surged on a comeback. Jordan Hipwell made one, missed one at the line, before DeComo sunk the rock from downtown to cut the Lions lead down to eight, 56-48, with 2:05 on the clock.
Time was not in the Rams' favor though and Emerson clung to the advantage, 57-50, with 31 seconds to go. Ed Leyden used a timeout to draw up a play. The huddle helped as DiCecco put in a long ball to make it two possession ball game a second later.
The Rams gambled with the foul game and Emerson's composure paid off as Ashely Toner sunk a pair of foul shots to push the visitors ahead by six, 59-53.
Suffolk's final attempts fell short and the Lions prevailed in the city clash.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- DeComo anchored a well-balanced Suffolk scoring unit that saw six different players produced two points or more.
- DiCecco was the on the verge of a triple double with 13 points, nine rebounds and seven assists, while Hipwell was closing in on a double-double with 10 points and seven caroms.
- Alexis Hackett had nine boards, six on the defensive end, to help the Rams outrebound the Lions, 42-33.
- Suffolk struggled from the floor, shooting 32.7 percent (18-55) overall, 31.6 percent (6-19) from three-point range and 68.3 percent (11-16) from the charity stripe.
NOTEWORTHY
- DeComo matched her career-high 16 points.
- Alli Cavallo grabbed a personal-best three rebounds.
POST-GAME PIC
COMING UP
The Rams rest the remainder of the week before returning to the road next week, Wednesday, Nov. 20 with a trip to Salve Regina on the slate.