PROVIDENCE, R.I. – A powerful fourth quarter helped Suffolk women's basketball down Johnson & Wales, 46-42, Wednesday night at the Wildcat Center.

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 46 | Johnson & Wales 42
RECORDS: Suffolk (12-6, 4-1 GNAC) | Johnson & Wales (10-10, 2-4 GNAC)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk found itself in a 9-1 hole 3:15 into the action. Alexis Hackett jump started a Rams' run with a triple, before back-to-back buckets from Gabriella DeComo pulled the visitors within one, 9-8, with 3:31 remaining in the opening quarter.  

On the Wildcats next possession, Jenni-Rose DiCecco converted a steal into two points to put the blue-and-gold in front for the first time on the day, 10-9. JWU used its first timeout to gain composure. Out of the huddle the teams went hoop-for-hoop and Suffolk was in front by one, 14-13, at the end of the first 10 minutes.  

See-saw action consumed the second stanza that sent the teams into the break tied at 24.  

Things continued to ping-pong out of the locker rooms. The lead switched to the Wildcats favor in the first five minutes, 33-31. That cushion went on to blossom to 38-33 at the end of the frame as the Rams went scoreless for a 3:45 stretch.   

A freebie from Emily Welling to open the fourth jump started an 8-0 Suffolk span that turned the tides for the Rams, 41-38, with 2:42 to go in regulation.  

JWU put in two consecutive shots to regain the advantage, 42-41, with 46 seconds to go, but free throws from DiCecco flipped the script once again for the Rams at 14 seconds later.  

The Wildcats hat a shot to take the lead, but Tara Murphy's attempt was off the mark. From there, Suffolk went 3-for-4 at the charity stripe to hold on for the victory. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• DiCecco's 17 points lead Suffolk's scoring as the floor general went 6-for-14 from the field and 5-for-8 at the line to power the offensive output. 
• Hackett had an 11-point, 11-rebound double-double performance with one block and one steal as well. 
• DeComo was on the verge of double figures with nine points to go along with five caroms, two dimes and one swat. 
• Jordan Hipwell pitched in five caroms, two points and one takeaway. 
• Suffolk shot just 26.6 percent (17-64) from the floor and 17.6 percent (3-17) from three-point range. 
• The Wildcats, who had two players in double digits, outrebounded the Rams, 48-41.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk defeated JWU for the fourth consecutive contest to improve to 20-8 all-time against the Wildcats. 
• Hackett had her sixth double-double of the season, 31st of her career and first since Albertus Magnus, Jan. 16, 2020.  

POST-GAME PIC
  

LOOKING AHEAD
Suffolk ventures to Emmanuel Saturday, Feb. 1. Game time is set for 1 p.m.