Boston, Mass. - The Suffolk University Women's Basketball team (9-8, 4-2 GNAC) held on Saturday afternoon to take down the Rivier College Raiders (13-7, 4-3 GNAC), by a score of 58-56. Sophomore Meghan Black (Roslindale, Mass.) finished with 19 points, including hitting the game deciding shot with 1:36 left as the Rams grabbed their second conference win of the week as they now move into a four team battle for third place within the conference.
Rivier held a 38-33 lead at the half, but Suffolk went into the break with a full head of steam chipping away at a 16-point Rivier lead, by going on an 11-0 run in three minutes to end the first half. The Rams would completely change the game around in the second half led by Black, and senior Laura Thompson (Kennebunk, Me.) who posted 10 rebounds and nine points in the game's final twenty minutes.
The Rams would manage to tie the game, 44-44 within the first six minutes of the game's second period after Laura Thompson put in a lay-in and converted on her free throw shot on the three-point play.
The Rams grabbed the lead for good after freshman Emily Forzano (Beacon, N.Y.) hit a clutch three-pointer to put the Suffolk up, 52-51. Suffolk would manage to push the lead to as many as five points after when sophomore Mary Garon (Auburn, N.H.) hit a baseline shot from 15 feet with four minutes remaining.
Rivier evened the score up at 56 a piece after sophomore Amandra Purcell (Hudson, N.H.) hit a three- pointer with less than two minutes remaining.
Black would then hitting the game-winner twenty seconds later driving to the lane for the lay-in.
The closing seconds were not without drama as the Rams would miss two opportunities to make the game a two-possesion game, squandering chances at the free throw line. Rivier could not capitalize as they were 0-for-3 from three-point land as they tried to take the lead in the game's final minute.
Rivier came out of the gates hot, shooting 8-for-14 as a team from beyond the arc as the Rams had no answers early for the Raiders' scoring touch. Senior Monica White (Augusta, Me.) had 13 of her game's 18 points in the first half, as she went 4-for-5 from three. White finished the game with a double-double grabbing 10 boards along with her 18 points.
Amandra Purcell was just as potent adding 12 of her team-high 19 points in the first half as she was 3-for 4 from three as well.
Freshman Mackenzie Brooks (Colebrook, N.H.) also had ten points for the Raiders, while junior Steph Adams (Nashua, N.H.) had a team-high 14 rebounds.
Freshman Lindsey Rogers (Gloucester, Mass.) finished the game with eight points and eight rebounds for Suffolk.
Rivier will be back in action as they host Mount Ida College on Wednesday evening in a GNAC matchup. The Rams are back on the court on Monday as they host Newbury College in non-league action beginning at 7:00pm at Suffolk's Regan Gymnasium.