DiCecco leads visiting Rams over Seahawks

NEWPORT, R.I. (November 20, 2019) - Salve Regina University women's basketball ended its three-game homestand to start the season with a matchup against Suffolk University. The visiting Rams (2-2) downed the Seahawks (0-3) by 23 points, 67-44, behind an 18-point performance by junior Jenni-Rose DiCecco (Falmouth, Mass.).

Jenni-Rose DiCecco led all players with nine points at the break for the Rams who had built an 11-point lead (30-19); Seahawk senior Torie Scorpio (Cranston, R.I.) topped her team with eight points including two 3-pointers in the first half.

DiCecco was the only player on either team to finish in double-figure scoring, but the Rams had points from 10 different players including nine from senior Alexis Hackett (Charlton, Mass.) who also had a game-high 13 rebounds. Salve Regina senior Lauryn Becker (Hanover, Mass.) led her team with nine points and seven rebounds.

After DiCecco started the scoring with a layup in the first minute, Scorpio evened the score 90 seconds later. Suffolk then went on a 10-0 run with half those points from junior Jordan Hipwell (Ballston Spa, N.Y.). Scorpio stopped the run with a 3-pointer at 2:41 in the first. Suffolk finished the frame with an eight-point lead, 13-5.

Rachel LaSaracina (Colchester, Conn.) opened the second quarter with a trey for the Rams. After trailing 17-5, the Seahawks had a 9-0 run (its largest of the game) started by a 3-pointer from freshman Gabby Sousa (Hudson, N.H.). Becker had a layup before Megan Henaghan (Whitman, Mass.) had back-to-back buckets to compel a timeout from Suffolk 26th-year head coach Ed Leyden.

The Rams finished the first half with a 13-5 run after the timeout. Hackett's 3-pointer in the final minute made the score 30-19. Suffolk maintained a double-digit advantage throughout the third period, and expanded its lead to 18 points (51-33) by the beginning of the fourth quarter.

Suffolk outscored Salve Regina, 40-14, in the paint. From the bench, the visitors also had the advantage with a 29-14 output. Salve Regina reserves accounted for the only Seahawk points in the final period with baskets from Madi Kalkstein (Farmington, Conn.), Dani Oddo (Cross River, N.Y.), and Brooke Vonasek (Willington, Conn.). Morgan Shuey (Corning, Iowa) scored all five of her points from the free-throw line (5-of-6).

Not only did Salve Regina make more free throws than Suffolk (12-11), the Seahawks had a significantly better percentage from the line (75.6% on 12-of-17; 45.8% on 11-of-24).

Gabriella DeComo (Portsmouth, R.I.) had a game-high four assists and DiCecco led all players with three steals.

Salve Regina (0-3) seeks its first win of the season when it travels to Bridgewater State University on Friday to face the home team in its Cave Classic. Suffolk (2-2) evens the all-time series with the Seahawks at five wins apiece, and next hosts Plymouth State on Saturday (1 p.m.).