BOSTON – The GNAC clash between the Rams and Chargers came down to the wire and the Suffolk women's basketball team came out on the wrong side of a 63-60 decision Tuesday night at Smith Court. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 60 | Colby Sawyer 63
RECORDS: Suffolk (16-8, 7-3 GNAC) | Colby Sawyer (17-7, 6-4 GNAC)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
In the first 2:08 seconds Suffolk grabbed a 9-0 edge, six points of which came off of Chargers turnovers and were scored by Jenni-Rose DiCecco. Colby Sawyer took a timeout to decipher the Rams' full-court pressure. The huddle helped the visitors for a few of possessions, but a pair of monster blocks by Alexis Hackett kept the blue-and-gold ahead 12-4 at the midway point as Allie Lopes sunk her second triple of the night.  

A comeback came for the Chargers, who ended the opening quarter with a 9-2 stretch to make it a one-point game, 14-13. Lexi Hamilton spearheaded the scoring spree with two hoops and one freebie.  

Hamilton's near buzzer beater ignited a CSC 8-2 stretch that began the second stanza to put the Rams in a 21-16 hole. Out of a Suffolk timeout, Lopes kept the Rams within striking distance, behind finesse from three-point land. The sophomore went bucket-for-bucket with the Chargers with the trio of hoops all coming from behind-the-arc trim the gap down to three, 28-25, with just under three minutes to play before half.  

Hackett go in on the shooting show with a three of her own to pull her squad within two. Six straight points by Colby Sawyer restored a two-possession lead in its favor until Gabriella DeComo put away a pair of free throws to slice the margin down to four, 30-26.  

The Chargers lead fluctuated back-and-forth from eight in the third quarter until DeComo jump started Suffolk's offense. A traditional three-point play by the junior sparked an 11-4 Rams run over the final 4:37 in the third quarter to bring the blue-and-gold within one, 47-46. 

Lopes first hoop inside the arc put the rams ahead on their first chance in the fourth frame since the 9:44 of the second quarter. From there, the playing field leveled twice until the game of runs continued in Colby Sawyer's favor. This time the visitors poured in six straight points to flip the script in its favor once again, 57-54. 

Once again DeComo was the factor that helped Suffolk stay in things. The Chargers clung to the one-point edge with Suffolk's greatest glimpse to go in front was when Hackett was fouled on a three with 54 seconds to play. The senior missed the first, made the second, and missed the third, which allowed CSC to hang onto the advantage. 

A backdoor layup by Joslin Wainwright pushed the Chargers cushion to three with 33 seconds on the clock and Suffolk's multiple attempts were just off the mark for the 63-60 Colby Sawyer final.  

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Lopes had a game-high 20 points on a 6-for-9 effort on the long ball and a 7-for-11 performance on the day. She added a pair of boards and steals, respectively, with one helper. 
• Hackett had an all-around outing of 11 rebounds, seven blocks, six points, four dimes and two takeaways. 
• DeComo supplied 13 points, 11 of which came in the second half. She shot 4-for-5 at the free throw line, grabbed three caroms and dished out two helpers. 
• DiCecco rounded out the Rams in double figures with 10 to her credit. She added five assists, three steals and three rebounds. 
• Suffolk shot 41.5 percent (22-53) on the day, 37.0 percent (10-27) from down and just 46.2 percent (6-13) at the charity stripe. 
• The Chargers took advantage of their rebounds, turning 10 offensive rebounds into 15 points. 
• Colby Sawyer won the battle on the boards, 40-31.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Lopes logged a personal-best six threes made to match a career-high 20 points. 
• Hackett blocked a career-high seven shots.  

POST-GAME PIC
 

COMING UP
Suffolk caps of the regular-season on the road Saturday, Feb. 22 as it travels to Rivier for a 3 p.m. showdown