DiCecco, Hackett Anchor Women’s Basketball’s Second Half Comeback at Curry

MILTON, Mass. – Jenni-Rose DiCecco and Alexis Hackett combined for 48 points as Suffolk secured a second-half comeback 72-57 win over Curry at the Katz Gymnasium Monday night.

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 72, Curry 57
RECORDS: Suffolk (3-2) | Curry (3-3) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
In the first quarter, Suffolk struggled from the floor, shooting just 25 percent from the field. The Rams rookies DiCecco and Jordan Hipwell were the lone players in Suffolk blue to put away a field goal over the first 10 minutes to keep the visitors in the game, which the Rams trailed 15-9. 

Juniors Shannon Smith and Marissa Gudauskas provided a spark to Suffolk as the pair combined for five points with a layup and trey, respectively, to make it a one-point game 15-14 early in the second stanza. DiCecco converted an Alexandra Nagri steal into three points, knocking down a shot from downtown on the break to put the Rams ahead, 18-17, with 6:53 to play in the second. 

The lead was short lived, however, as Emily Irwin put the hosts back in front. Curry went on to gain a 10 point, 30-20, advantage with less than three minutes remaining in the half. Suffolk trimmed the deficit to four points, 31-27, heading into the break thanks to a late 7-2 run, which featured five points from Hackett. 

Georgia Bourikas kept Suffolk's streak going out of the locker room as the senior hit a shot behind-the-arc and Hackett followed with a layup to put the Rams up 32-31. The lead was exchanged four more times until Alexandra Nagri connected on a shot from three-point range to give the Rams a 44-42 cushion with 19 seconds left in the third quarter. 

Suffolk put on cruise control in the fourth as the blue-and-gold gained a double-digit lead, 54-44, at the 7:58 minute mark. The Rams kept the Colonels at bay from there to take the non-conference victory by a 72-57 decision. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• DiCecco and Hackett anchored Suffolk's charge with the freshman and sophomore each contributing double-double efforts.
• DiCecco had 28 points, shooting 8-for-18 from the floor and an impressive 10-of-16 at the free throw line. She set up five shots and pulled down 10 rebounds as well.
• Hackett, meanwhile, notched 21 points going 8-for-10 from the field and 2-for-4 from long range, while adding 11 boards.
• Bourikas added five caroms and Smith chipped in six points off the bench.
• After a sluggish opening, the Rams finished the night shooting 41.5 percent (22-53) from the floor, 40.0 percent (40.0) from three-point range and 62.5 percent (20-32) from the charity stripe.
• The Rams won the battle on the boards, outrebounding the Colonels, 41-38.

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk met Curry for the 30th time. The Rams won their second consecutive game versus the Colonels to even the all-time series, which dates back to the 1983-84 season, at 15 wins apiece.
• Hackett notched her first 20-plus point game of her collegiate career with a career-high 21 points.  
• Hackett produced her third double-double of the season and second in as many games.
• Hackett grabbed double figure rebounds for the third straight game, fourth time this season and sixth time in her career.
• DiCecco registered her second 20-plus point game of her collegiate career.
• DiCecco contributed her first collegiate double-double with career-bests in both points (28) and rebounds (10).
• Ed Leyden used the starting five of DiCecco, Nagri, Bourikas, Hackett and Hipwell for the fourth consecutive contest. 

POST-GAME PIC


COMING UP
Suffolk lifts the lid on its GNAC schedule Wednesday, Nov. 29 when it visits Lasell for a midweek match. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.