Women’s Basketball Downs Albertus Magnus in GNAC Quarterfinals, 103-95, in Double OT Thriller

BOSTON – Every player showed sparks of greatness to contribute to an edge-of-your-seat victory as the fourth-seeded Suffolk women's basketball bested fifth seeded Albertus Magnus, 103-95, in double overtime in the GNAC Quarterfinals Tuesday night at the Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 103 | Albertus Magnus 95
RECORDS: Suffolk (18-8) | Albertus Magnus (18-8)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
A game-opening 8-2 Suffolk run helped the Rams build a 17-11 cushion at the 3:43 minute mark. Out of a Falcons timeout, the kept the up-tempo game going. First Emily Welling and Jordan Hipwell coupled hoops together before Natalie Fraioli hit back-to-back buckets, one inside the arc and one behind it, to help the hosts go up 13, 28-15, at the end of the first 10 minutes.  

A sluggish second stanza cost Suffolk. The Falcons flew out on a 10-4 stretch to make things interesting and slice the gap to seven, 32-25, with 5:41 to go.  

See-saw action ensued after Suffolk took a timeout, which allowed the Rams to remain ahead, 41-35, as the teams headed to the locker rooms.   

The back-and-forth affair was present throughout the third quarter. Suffolk never relinquished the lead though and sat in front, 60-58, after 30 minutes.

Albertus Magnus began the fourth frame with nine straight points to flip the script in its favor, 67-60. The Falcons largest lead of the night tested Suffolk to play catchup with just over six minutes remaining in regulation.  

Freebies from Jenni-Rose DiCecco jump started an 8-2 Suffolk stretch that cut the margin down to one, 69-68, with 3:09 on the clock. 

A traditional three-point play by Rah Rah Thompson restored a four-point distance that was made up with layups from DiCecco and Alexis Hackett that leveled the playing field at 72-all with 1:41 to go. 

Shyla Osmond had three chances to regain the edge for the Falcons and DiCecco's last second jumper was off the mark to force OT.  

The lead switched three times in the opening action of the first overtime and would go on to exchange twice more until DiCecco put in a layup with 43 seconds to go to even things up again at 83-83.  

The Falcons had a chance to win it, but Osmond's layup with two seconds to go was off the mark and the game would need more time once again. 

Allie Lopes sparked Suffolk in the second OT. The sophomore sunk back-to-back pull-up jumpers to give the Rams the edge. Osmond kept Albertus Magnus in it and equalized matters at 89-all at the 3:44 minute mark.  

An old fashion three-point play by Hackett sparked eight straight points for Suffolk that put the game away. 

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• DiCecco was on the verge of a triple-double effort as her 29-point, 10-assist, eight-rebound night was just two caroms shy of the milestone. She added three takeaways and one block. 
• Hackett had a double-double with 23 points and 10 caroms to go with two helpers. 
• Welling notched 13 points off the bench, shooting 5-for-6 from the floor and 3-for-4 at the line. She chipped in five rebounds, two steals and two blocks. 
• DeComo pitched in 14 points, four boards, three dimes, and two takeaways. 
• Lopes registered 10 points, going 4-for-5 from the field. She contributed eight boards and two handouts as well. 
• Suffolk shot 45.5 percent (35-77) on the night, 33.3 percent (9-27) from downtown and 75.0 percent at the charity stripe. 
• The Rams won the boards battle, 50-48. 
• The Falcons received a game-high 46-point performance from Osmond.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk and Albertus Magnus met in the postseason for the fifth time first since 2010. 
• The Rams improved to 4-1 in the GNAC tournament against the Falcons, and 18-8 all-time against AMC. 
• Suffolk bested Albertus Magnus for the second straight meeting.  
• The Rams advance to the semifinals for the 12th time, third straight season. 
• As the fourth seed, the Suffolk will advance to the second round for the fifth time, second straight season. 
• Suffolk needed extra time in the conference tournament for the first time in conference history. 
• The Rams went into OT for the second time this season. 
• Suffolk recorded an OT win for the first time since a 90-87 triumph at Framingham State Dec. 9, 2017. 
• The double overtime outing was a first for the blue-and-gold since falling at Bridgewater State, 68-58, over 50 minutes of play Oct. 29, 2018. 
• The 103 offensive output marks the second time in program history that Suffolk hit the century marker in scoring. The first and last time the Rams registered 100 points with a 104-99 overtime victory against Albertus Magnus Feb. 13, 2016. 
• DiCecco notched her first double-double of the season, sixth of her career. 
• DiCecco produced personal-bests in assists (10) and free throws made (12). 
• Hackett had her 33rd career double-double, eighth of the season. 

POST-GAME PIC
 

WHAT'S AHEAD?
Suffolk heads across town Thursday, Feb. 27 for a league semifinal showdown with regular-season champion Emmanuel. Tip-off is set for 7 p.m.