Powerful third quarter sends Suffolk past Salve Regina

BOSTON – Whatever head coach Ed Leyden said in the locker room in half time worked, as the Suffolk women's basketball team handled Salve Regina in the third quarter to take an 81-65 non-conference victory over the Seahawks Wednesday night at Regan Gymnasium.

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 81 | Salve Regina 65
RECORDS: Suffolk (2-1) | Salve Regina (0-1)

HOW IT HAPPENED
The close contest was evident early on as Salve Regina put away the first four points of the game before an and-1 from Jenni-Rose DiCecco sliced the margin to one. At the midway point, Alexis Hackett jump started a 9-0 swing in Suffolk's favor to give the hosts a 17-14 edge. A late Seahawks hoop cut the Rams' lead to one, 17-16 as the buzzer sounded the end of the first quarter.

Salve Regina gained the one-point margin once again on its first possession of the second frame, but it was shortlived as Natalie Fraioli's first collegiate triple put the blue-and-gold in front by two, 20-18. From there the lead was exchanged five times with the final coming off Torie Scorpio's deep triple at the buzzer, which gave the Seahawks a 36-35 edge heading into half.

Suffolk stormed out of the locker room on an 11-2 run to quickly leap ahead by 10, 48-38, as Salve Regina took a timeout to talk things over. The break was no match for the red-hot Rams as a Hackett trey was followed up by one from Marissa Gudauskas and Suffolk's lead lengthened to 54-38.

The Seahawks attempted multiple comebacks, but the Rams continued to answer every run the visitors made to hold onto a 66-50 cushion after three quarters.

Over the fourth quarter the teams traded hoops and Suffolk's third quarter advantage held true for the final 81-65 decision.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• All five of Suffolk's starters produced double figures in scoring led by Hackett's 20-point effort.
• Hackett's 20 points came off a 6-for-9 showing from the field including a 5-for-6 effort from behind-the-arc.
• The junior from Charlton, Massachusetts, led the way on the glass with 16 rebounds, 15 of which came on the defensive end, and added five blocks as well as three handouts.
• Gabriella DeComo was second on the squad with a 16-point performance on a 7-for-12 connection rate from the field with three assists and two caroms to her credit as well.
• Gudauskas pitched in 12 points with a 4-for-6 effort from the floor, which included a 2-for-4 showing from behind-the-arc with the senior co-captain also tallying five boards, three dimes and three take aways.
• DiCecco and Jordan Hipwell completed the five with double digits in socrign with 11 points apiece. Hipwell also provided four boards and a pair of helpers, while DiCecco recorded five rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block.
• As a team Suffolk shot 50 percent (30-60) from the floor, 45.4 percent (10-22) from three-point range and 68.8 percent (11-16 from the free throw line.
• The Rams won the battle on the boards, outrebounding the Seahawks, 40-30.