Campellone’s Double-Double Leads Women’s Basketball to 3rd Straight Win in GNAC Opener

BOSTON – Chelsea Campellone's 14-point, 12-rebound effort helped lift the Suffolk women's basketball team to a 65-52 win at Simmons Saturday as the team opened its 21st season of Great Northeast Athletic Conference play.

Campellone's double-double was her sixth of the season. The senior converted 6-of-14 attempts from the floor, and was 2-of-3 on freebies. Alessandra Quadri notched a game-high 15 points and was 6-of-13 from the field and dished out five assists.

Suffolk combined to shoot 39.1 percent from the floor and was 12-of-17 at the line. The Rams have now won three straight to set a new winning streak for the season. With the win, Suffolk improves to 9-4 overall and 1-0 in GNAC play, improving to 15-7 in GNAC openers all-time.

Simmons (5-6, 0-1 GNAC), was led by Presley Silva's 14 points.

Halfway through the opening quarter it was a tight race between the Rams and Sharks. A layup from Campellone at 5:09 sparked a 7-0 stretch that put Suffolk out in front 13-4, before a three-point play by Nicole Alberghini kept Simmons in the hunt. The Rams scored five of the final seven first frame points, however, to grab an 18-9 lead.

Marissa Gudauskas put a 3-ball through the netting to open the second stanza and open up a double-digit lead, 21-9. The Rams built on that advantage going ahead by as many as 17, 32-15. Over the final three minutes before intermission Suffolk's shooting went cold and the Rams did not score again. The Sharks took advantage and used buckets from three-point play from Katey Sullivan to bring the score to 32-18 at the half.

Despite the three minute lull in the final minutes of first-half action, Suffolk shot 41.2 percent from the floor (14-34) compared to Simmons 24.1 connection rate (7-29) from the field. Quadri and Campellone each put in top first-half performances. Quadri led in scoring with nine points, shooting 4-of-8 from the field, while Campellone put in seven points and grabbed nine boards.

Out of the break, Simmons chipped away at the score, cutting the deficit to six, 33-27, with 6:08 remaining in the third. The teams traded hoops and Suffolk quickly built its lead back to double-figures on a layup from Alexandra Nagri.

In the final frame, the Sharks attempted to comeback, and got as close as seven with 8:19 remaining, but Suffolk did not relent, holding on for the 65-52 victory.

Suffolk steps out of conference play Tuesday, Jan. 12 when it visits Curry. The Rams and Colonels are slated for a 5:30 p.m. tip-off.