BIDDEFORD, Maine – Suffolk women's basketball could not hang onto a half time lead as the University of New England charged out of the locker room and hung onto the lead over the final frame to hand the Rams a 54-52 setback in their Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) debut Wednesday night at Harold Alfond Forum.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 52 | University of New England 54
RECORDS: Suffolk (5-2, 0-1 CCC) | University of New England (4-5, 2-0 CCC) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
Natalie Fraioli scored on Suffolk's first possession of the game to help the blue-and-gold build a 7-4 edge at the midway point of the opening quarter. Over the final five minutes, the Rams ran off on a 15-6 stretch to go ahead 22-10.  

The Nor'Easters put up the first six points of the second stanza to make it a two-possession, 22-16, game with 7:08 to go before half time. The team's traded hoops over the next two minutes, which allowed Suffolk to stay in front by a handful until another Rams' rally came. This time Suffolk went on a 12-2 run to extend the margin back to double figures, 36-23, as the teams headed into the locker rooms.  

UNE made its comeback in the third as it outscored the Rams, 16-6, to cut deficit down to 42-39 as the game transitioned to the fourth. 

Jenni-Rose DiCecco took control of Suffolk's scoring to get the fourth quarter going. The graduate student floor general was responsible for the Rams' first six points that matched the Nor'Easters offensive output and helped the Rams hold onto the advantage, 48-44, with 4:32 to go.  

The Nor'Easters leveled matters at 48-all thanks to scoring four unanswered. The score would tie again at 50 before a set of freebies for Jordyn Franzen gave UNE its first lead of the night with 42 seconds left on the clock.  

A dozen seconds later, Gabriella DeComo converted a trip to the free throw line into two points for the blue-and-gold that equalize matters once again. 

Out of an UNE timeout Abby Cavallaro missed a jumper and Emily Welling picked up the rebound with four seconds to play. The senior's outlet pass was stolen by Franzen though and she converted the takeaway into the game-winning hoop as time expired.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• DiCecco finished with a game-high 19 points to go along with four rebounds and steals, respectively and a pair of assists. 
• Fraioli supplied 12 points, seven of which came in the first quarter. She pulled down five caroms and added one helper, one swat and one takeaway. 
• Welling and Allie Lopes each grabbed 10 boards. 
• Welling added five points, three dimes, two steals and two blocks, while Lopes logged two points, two swats and one helper. 
• DeComo chipped in eight points, five rebounds, one set-up and one steal. 
• As a team Suffolk shot 33.3 percent (19-57) from the field and just 22.2 percent (4-18) from 3-point land. 
• The Rams converted 62.5 percent (10-16) of their free throw attempts. 
• Suffolk outrebounded the Nor'Easters, 47-42. 
• The University of New England capitalized Suffolk's 18 turnovers, turning them into 17 points. 
• The Nor'Easters reserved out played the Rams, outscoring Suffolk's bench, 10-6.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk played its first-ever contest in the CCC. 
• The Rams and Nor'Easters met for the first time. 
• Lopes had a season-high 10 rebounds. 
• Welling pulled down double-digit caroms for the third time this year.  

POST-GAME PIC
  

COMING UP
Suffolk looks to return to the win column as it is set to play in front of its home crowd Saturday, Dec. 4 when Western New England stops by Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court for a CCC clash at 1 p.m.