Women's Basketball Holds Off Emerson, 74-67, for Best Start in Program History

BOSTON – Suffolk women's basketball extended its win streak to six straight with a 74-67 decision over Emerson Tuesday night inside Regan Gymnasium. With the win, the Rams improve to 8-2 on the season, marking the best start in program history. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 74, Emerson 67
RECORDS; Suffolk (8-2) | Emerson (2-8)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk was off to a slow start as the Lions grabbed an early 9-6 lead at the midway point of the first frame. A quick 7-0 stretch by the Rams turned the tides and put the hosts in front 13-10. Emerson leveled the playing field, but Georgia Bourikas connected on a set at the foul line to give the blue-and-gold a 15-13 edge after the first 10 minutes. 

The scored equalized early in the second stanza and Emerson went ahead, 20-19, as Kate Foultz buried a long ball. The advantage was short lived as Shannon Smith put the Rams in front once again as the junior put away a pair of freebies. Back-to-back triples from Jenni-Rose DiCecco stretched Suffolk's cushion to six, but a late 5-2 run from Emerson cut the deficit to three, 31-28, at the break. 

Suffolk built an eight-point cushion, 38-30, but the Lions clawed back with seven unanswered points to make it a one-point contest, 38-37, with 4:35 to play in the third. Alexis Hackett struck from three-point land before buckets were traded on either end. Hackett and DiCecco coupled consecutive hoops to make it a 50-43 Rams game, but Natalie Busch's late three trickled into the netting as time expired to cut the deficit to four, 50-46. 

Thanks to hoops from Gabriella Decomo and DiCecco Suffolk's lead grew to 55-46 in the opening minutes of the fourth, but once again Emerson trimmed things to four, 55-51, with 6:38 on the clock. The Rams held onto its advantage, but Emerson hung around and heated up from long range to make things interesting with a two-point, 69-67 game, with 1:07 to play. 

With the shot clock running out the Rams forced a lay-up and the Lions grabbed the rebound and tried for the fast break, but Hackett intercepted the pass to regain possession for the hosts with 24.4 seconds left. Out of a Suffolk timeout, Emerson took the chance with sending the Rams to the line, but Bourikas connected on the set to gain a 71-67 edge with 20.7 to go. 

Emerson called a timeout to advance the ball, missed its layup opportunity and fouled once again. Alexandra Nagri missed the first, made the second, and William Gould called the Lions to talk things over once again with just under 12 seconds to play. Emerson had another open look, this time from the three-point line, but it was off the mark. The visitors continued to play the foul game and the Rams took advantage en route to the 74-67 victory. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• DiCecco's 21-points led a trio of Rams in double figures with the freshman floor general shooting 50 percent (8-16) from the floor. Her stat line also featured five rebounds, four assists, two steals and one block.
• Bourikas was one-point shy of 20 with 19 thanks to a 4-for-7 day from the filled and 3-for-4 showing from three-point range. The senior captain grabbed six caroms and dished out two assists.
• Hackett had a double-double with 15 points 12 rebounds to go along with four blocks, three steals and a pair of helpers.
• Suffolk held the upper hand on the glass, 36-33.
• The Rams shot 43.1 percent (25-58) on the night and used a 78.9 connection rate (15-19) from the free throw line. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk is on its best-start in the program's 35-year history.
• The Rams ran their wins streak to six straight contests the longest winning streak since combining eight wins in a row Jan. 5–Feb. 21, 2017.
• Suffolk and Emerson renewed a rivalry, meeting for the first time since the 2012-13 season.
• The Rams and Lions competed against one another for the 28th time.
• Suffolk won its second straight versus Emerson.
• Bourikas produced double figures for the eighth time this season and fifth straight game, while DiCecco registered double digits in her fourth consecutive game and eighth time in her collegiate career.
• Hackett produced her sixth double-double of the year with the sophomore pulling down double-digit boards for the eighth time this season and fourth straight outing.
• DiCecco has now scored 20-plus points in four collegiate contests and back-to-back games.
• Ed Leyden started DiCecco, Nagri, Bourikas, Hackett and Hipwell for the ninth consecutive contest. That starting five combination improved to 8-1 on the season.

POST-GAME PIC 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk is on a three-week break for finals and the holidays and will return to the hardwood following the New Year when the Rams welcome Pine Manor to Regan Gymnasium Saturday, Jan. 6 for a 1 p.m. battle.