NEWPORT, R.I. – Trailing by 10 with 2:14 to play, Suffolk women's basketball made a late push and came within three, but could not complete the comeback as the Rams fell to Salve Regina, 52-50, in their season opener Wednesday evening at the Rodgers Recreation Center. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 50, Salve Regina 52
RECORDS: Suffolk (0-1) | Salve Regina (1-0) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk put the first five points on the board and went on to take a 10-3 lead at the midway point of the first frame. The score held there over the next 3:07 and the quarter ended with the Rams up, 12-5. 

The Seahawks gained momentum off Torie Scorpio's jump shot that ended the first stanza and piled on seven straight points to open the second to even the playing field at 12-all. The Rams regained a 16-12 cushion thanks to a good set of freebies by Georgia Bourikas and a layup by Jenni-Rose DiCecco. The Seahawks did not stay quiet, however, as the hosts equalized the game once again, this time at 19-19 with 2:58 left on the clock before intermission. Salve went ahead for the first time on the night thanks to a good free throw by Lauryn Becker, but DiCecco answered with a layup to send the blue-and-gold into the locker room up one, 23-22. 

The tight contest carried over into the third quarter as the dynamic duo of Bourikas and DiCecco kept the Rams in front, 29-24. A 7-1 spurt by the Seahawks put the hosts ahead by one, a lead they would stretch to six points, 37-31, with just under two minutes to play in the quarter. DiCecco trimmed the deficit to four points with a layup, but the Rams could not make up more ground as they would head into the final frame trailing, 37-33. 

Suffolk had to a play catch up for the majority of the fourth frame as it found itself in a 10-point hole with 2:14 on the clock. The comeback came as DiCecco, Alexandra Nagri and Gabriella DeComo all notched layups to pull within three, 50-47, with 20 seconds on the board. 

Out of Salve Regina timeout, the Rams took the chance on the foul game, sending Kerri Beland to the line. Beland connected on the pair. DiCecco's final attempt at a comeback connected, but it would be enough as time expired and the Seahawks grabbed the 52-50 season-opening win. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• DiCecco led the way in her collegiate debut as the freshman floor general put up 21 points on a 9-for-16 showing from the floor. The rookie played all 40 minutes and added three boards, two steals and one assist in her first game in blue-and-gold.
• Bourikas joined DiCecco in double digits with 13 points thanks to an impressive 7-for-8 showing from the free throw line. The senior added six boards on the glass, four steals, a pair of dimes and one block.
• Alexis Hackett anchored Sufoflk's 31-reobund effort, pulling down 10 caroms, including seven on the defensive end with the sophomore chipping in five points.
• The Rams were outrebounded 45-31.
• Suffolk struggled from the floor shooting just 29.3 percent (17-58) including a 4-28 effort from long range and relied heavily on its 75.0 connection rate (12-16) from the charity stripe to remain in the contest. 

NOTEWORTHY

• The Rams played their seventh straight season opener on the road.
• Suffolk and Salve Regina met for the fifth time on day one of the season.
• Mya Blazejowski, DeComo, DiCecco, Jordan Hipwell made their collegiate debuts with Blazejowski, DeComo and DiCecco all registering their first collegiate points.
• Bourikas notched double figures for the 37th time in her career.
• Hackett registered her third contest with double digit rebounds.
• Ed Leyden used the starting five of DiCecco, Bourikas, Gudauskas, Hipwell and Hackett. 

POST-GAME PIC
 

COMING UP
Suffolk remains on the road as it takes its talents to Mahwaj, New Jersey, over the weekend for Ramapo's Roadrunner Tip-Off Tournament. The Rams tourney action gets underway Friday, Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m. versus Saint Joseph's (Brooklyn) with the winner advancing to the championship Saturday, Nov. 18 at 2 p.m. against the winner of tournament hosts Ramapo and York.