BOSTON – Suffolk women's basketball had a flair for the dramatics Tuesday when it kept Ram Nation on the edge of its seat, trailing the entire game until late in the fourth quarter, when it took the lead with just under four minutes remaining. It would not be enough to take down the Seahawks, however, as Salve Regina showed its composure down the stretch. to grab the Commonwealth Coast Conference, 70-66, at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court.
THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 70 | Salve Regina 66
RECORDS: Suffolk (8-5, 4-3 CCC) | Salve Regina (9-5, 4-3 CCC)
HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk's scoring was sparse in the first quarter, which allowed Salve Regina to put the host in a 17-9 hole.
The Rams worked their way back, outscoring the Seahawks, 13-8, to make it a one-possession game, 25-22, with 5:27 to go before halftime.
The game of swings swayed back in Salve Regina's favor as the visitors outscored the blue-and-gold, 12-5 over the second half of the second quartet to send Suffolk to the locker room down, 37-27.
The gap grew to as many as 15, twice, with the last coming at 53-38 in the Seahawks favor at the 2:43 mark.
Suffolk worked its way back to single digits at the end of the third quartet. The comeback was sparked by Colby Guinta's first trey of the day. The freshman's triple ignited a quarter-ending 9-2 Rams run that pulled the blue-and-gold within eight, 55-47.
Two minutes into the final frame of regulation Suffolk was within four, 60-56, thanks to free throws, full-court pressure and points in the paint.
After a timeout from each side, Maddie Stewart sunk a pair of freebies before Katie Kirsch kicked out to Guinta, who swished the go-ahead bucket from the baseline of 3-point land.
The lead exchanged twice leading up to the final minute with Salve Regina clinging to a 64-63 edge. Morgan Shuey connected on a pair of foul shots with 34.6 seconds left to give the Seahawks a three-point cushion.
Suffolk used a timeout to advance the ball and had a trio of chances of pouring in the game-winning hoop. All three shots were off the mark, so the Rams gambled by fouling Megan Henaghan.
The center missed the first, made the second, to push the distance to four, 67-63, with 17 seconds on the clock. Guinta brought the ball in, in the hopes for a traditional 3-point play, instead, the shot was off the mark and a last second foul by Madi Mahoney sent Henaghan to the line again. Déjà vu occurred as she split the trip the charity stripe for the 70-66 final.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- Amanda DeAngelis racked up a 17-point, 17-rebound double-double with four steals, one helper and one block.
- Stewart logged a double-double as well, with 12 caroms and 11 points to her credit that went along with three set-ups, two takeaways and one swat.
- Guinta produced 16 points, two boards, two steals and one assist.
- Kirsch logged 11 points, two rebounds, five assists, one block and one steal.
- Mahoney recorded 11 points, two rebounds, one dime and one steal.
- Salve Regina, who shot 35.9 percent (23-64) from the floor and 47.4 percent from behind-the-arc (9-19), saw four players in double figures in Briana Neary (11), Ashley Rourke (10), Shuey (14) and Sofia Neary (16).
- Suffolk shot just 33.3 percent on the night (23-69) with a 43.8 conversion rate (7-16) from downtown.
- The Rams went 13-for-15 at the line.
- The Seahawks outrebounded the Rams, 44-43.
- All of Suffolk's scoring was supplied by its starting five, while the Seahawks reserved added 22 points.
NOTEWORTHY
- Every one of Suffolk's starters notched double figures in scoring.
- DeAngelis logged her fifth consecutive double-double, eighth of the season and 12th of her collegiate career.
- Stewart had her third double-double of the year and of her collegiate career.
- Kirsh dished out a career-high five assists.
- Mahoney matched a personal-best in points (11) and field goals made (4) and set a career-high in treys made (3).
POST-GAME PIC
WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk concludes its four-game home stay Thursday, Jan. 12 with its non-conference closer a tilt versus Lesley at 5 p.m.