Springfield Holds Off Women’s Basketball, 74-71

BOSTON – Alessandra Quadri shot lights out to put the Suffolk women's basketball team in a good spot for a comeback, but Springfield did not let up as the Rams fell to the Pride, 74-71, Monday night inside Regan Gymnasium.

Suffolk concludes 2015 6-4 overall, it's best start since going 7-3 through the first semester in 2012. Quadri put up a 10-of-22 performance from the floor, but more impressively the senior guard shot 6-of-7 from beyond-the arc for a career-high 30 points. Quadri pulled down 11 boards for a double-double effort and added two assists and a steal to her stat line. Georgia Bourikas joined Quadri in double figures with 14 points on a 6-of-14 performance from the field and went 2-of-2 from deep. The junior also grabbed seven boards and dished out three helpers.

Springfield (6-2) received double figures from a quarter of players, paced by Emily Gins' 18 points.

Suffolk held a slim 4-0 edge over the first 2:16 as Springfield went 0-for-8 from the field. Once the Pride connected however it turned into a back-and-forth affair. The score was even twice with the last time coming on a Bourikas lay-up at the 1:00 minute mark, but the visitors went on hold a one-point, 14-13, lead after one.

The tight contest ensued in the opening minutes of the second quarter. With the Rams down one, Bourikas found Kelsey Schiebel, who slipped the screen into the right corner. The junior guard netted one from deep to put the hosts out in front for the first time in the stanza. The lead was shortlived as the Pride answered with three unanswered treys, including two from Lexi Windwer to jump ahead, 29-22.

Coach Ed Leyden called a timeout to talk things over and the Rams stayed within reach thanks to Quadri's finesse at the charity stripe. The distance was too large to make up with one point hoops and Springfield maintained a 36-27 advantage at the half.

Suffolk used a 31.3 connection rate (10-32) from the field over the first 20 minutes boasted by Schiebel's seven points. Alexandra Nagri and Quadri chipped in five points each, while Chelsea Campellone led the Rams' effort on the glass with seven boards. Springfield shot 37.5 percent (12-32) from the field and 5-of-9 from long range. Windwer led the way for the visitors with nine first-half points.

Determined to end first semester on a high note, Suffolk burst out of the locker room on an 8-3 run to pull within four, 39-35. Springfield had its own agenda in mind and used an 8-0 spurt to build a double digit lead, 47-35, with 5:29 remaining in the third quarter.

After a Caitlyn Caramello hoop, Quadri and Bourikas began a shooting drill from beyond-the arc as the senior and junior made two from three-point range each to cut the deficit to two, 51-49. Danielle Racette put in a pair from the line for a 54-49 score after three quarters.

In the fourth Bourikas and Quadri traded buckets to keep the Rams within one, before the Pride poured in points to jump ahead by nine, 62-53. Nagri broke up Springfield's run with a hoop, but the visitors quickly did not Suffolk string together back-to-back hoops as they went ahead by double figures, 66-55.

In the final 2:37, Quadri went on a scoring frenzy. The senior guard hit shot after shot to put the Rams back within striking distance, but the hosts could not complete the comeback.  

Suffolk returns to the hardwood following the New Year holiday when the Rams entertain Worcester State Monday, Jan. 4 at 5:30 p.m.