Hackett’s Double-Double Leads Women’s Basketball to 65-56 Win at Mt. Ida

NEWTON, Mass. – Alexis Hackett's 17-point, 17-rebound double-double effort paced the Suffolk women's basketball team to a 65-56 GNAC victory at Mount Ida Saturday afternoon.

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 65, Mount Ida 56
RECORDS: Suffolk (16-5, 9-3 GNAC)| Mount Ida (12-9, 5-7 GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Both teams started with 6-0 runs as the scored locked at 6-all at the midway point of the opening quarter. Jenni-Rose DiCecco took control from there as the freshman put away five quick points and Hackett followed with a triple to put the Rams up, 14-6, with 2:57 to play in the first frame. The Mustangs coupled a pair of hoops together before Stephanie Langlais converted on a set of free throws to keep the Rams in front, 16-10, at the end of the first. 

Mt. Ida rolled in the second stanza, outscoring the visitors, 9-5, to cut the Rams lead to 21-19. Suffolk heated up from downtown as Marissa Gudauskas, DiCecco and Georgia Bourikas all struck from behind-the-arc to build a 30-19 cushion for the blue-and-gold with 1:45 to play before intermission.

Suffolk's 11-point cushion was maintained as Bourikas put away her second triple of the day away, but Valerie Martin made a pair of freebies with 2 seconds left before the break to trim the Rams' advantage to 33-24 at the half.

The Rams quickly added to their lead and gained an 18-point advantage, 46-28, with a traditional three-point play from Hackett. The Mustangs tried to play catchup from there, but could not make up much ground as the Rams remained ahead 50-37 heading into the fourth.

Mt. Ida ran out in the fourth, going on a 9-2 run to pull within eight, 54-46, with just under five minutes left in regulation. 

Suffolk rallied behind its senior co-captains, who rebuilt a double digit distance, 58-46, thanks to Bourikas' fourth three-pointer of the afternoon.

The Mustangs continued to hang around to keep things interesting, but the Rams took care of business down the stretch with DiCeco and Bourikas each converting on trips to the free throw line to lock up the 65-54 conference win. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Hackett had a day as the sophomore's 17 points came behind a 7-for-18 showing from the field with 13 of her 17 rebounds coming on the defensive end.
• DiCecco led Suffolk's trio of players in double figures with 19 with a 6-for-17 effort from the floor.
• Bourikas did not miss behind-the-arc to contribute 14 points. She shot 50 percent (4-8) from the field, while adding six boards, four assists, two steals and one block to her stat line.
• Suffolk shot just 38.6 percent (22-57) from the floor as a team, 45.8 percent (11-24) three-point land and 62.5 percent (10-16) from the foul line.
• The Mustangs out rebounded the Rams, 42-40. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk remains unbeaten all-time versus Mount Ida as the Rams improved to 15-0 versus the Mustangs.
• DiCecco had double-digit points for the second straight outing and 15th overall time this season.
• Hackett had her 13th contest with double digit rebounds and 11th outing with double figures in scoring to put together her 10th double-double of the year.
• Hackett's career-best 17 rebounds are the most by a Ram since Chelsea Campellone '16 had 17 caroms to her credit in a 73-58 win at Saint Joseph (Conn.) Feb. 16, 2016. 
• Bourikas racked up double figures for the 16th time this season.
• Thanks to her four three pointers this afternoon, Bourikas slid into third all-time in Suffolk history with three-pointers made at 137. 

POST-GAME PIC
 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk remains on the road as it makes the trip to Saint Joseph's (Maine) Tuesday, Feb. 6. The Rams look to avenge their Jan. 27 82-79 setback to the Monks. The conference clash is set to begin at 6 p.m.