Women’s Basketball Downs Gordon, 66-57, Pushes Win Streak to Six to End Year

BOSTON – Suffolk women's basketball put an exclamation point on its abbreviated season with a 66-57 victory over Gordon Thursday night at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court. The win extends the Rams win streak to six straight.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 66 | Gordon 57
RECORDS: Suffolk (7-1) | Gordon (5-5) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
One day after Suffolk jumped out to an early advantage, Gordon did the same at Smith Court to put the Rams in an 8-0 hole early. Ed Leyden used a timeout to calm the Rams down, however, the huddle helped the Fighting Scots stretch their lead to double-digits, 14-4, at the 3:43 minute mark. 

Emily Welling converted a traditional three-point play and Skylar Rojik hit a lay-up to bring the hosts back within striking distance, 16-9, at the end of the first frame.  

To open the second, it was all Suffolk. Natalie Fraioli jump started a 10-0 run that put the blue-and-gold in front, 19-16.  

It was a back-and-forth affair for second portion of the second stanza. The see-saw action saw Suffolk take a 28-27 edge into intermission.   

Suffolk kept Gordon off the scoreboard for the first five minutes of the third quarter. Offensively, the Rams poured in 12 points to take a 40-27 cushion.  

Fouls played a major factor in the latte portion of the third quarter, which ended with Suffolk ahead by a handful, 45-42. 

That one-possession game hung around until late in the fourth when the Rams strung together three straight buckets to extend it to a 56-47 gap. That stretch included a triple from Rachel LaSaracina. 

The Fighting Scots stayed in the mix thanks to freebies, however, sharp shooting from downtown by Gabriella DeComo made things lopsided in Suffolk's favor, 62-52, with 2:14 left on the clock. 

Those two triples were the difference marker as the Fighting Scots could not catch up and the Rams walked away with their sixth triumph in a row.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• DeComo finished with a team-best 18 points on a 4-for-9 effort from the floor and 2-for-3 showing from three-point land. The senior did not miss on her eight attempts at the free throw line. She added four caroms and one helper. 
• Welling had an all-around effort with 12 points, 10 rebounds, three blocks and two steals. 
• Fraioli finished with 11 points, seven caroms, two steals and one assist. 
• Allie Lopes and LaSaracina each provided seven points. 
• Jenni-Rose DiCecco chipped in six boards, five points, three boards, two steals and one block. 
• Suffolk and Gordon each grabbed 41 rebounds. 
• The Rams shot 40.7 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from three-point range.  

NOTEWORTHY

• The Rams stretched their win streak to six, which marks the most victories in a row since matching that number Dec. 30, 2018-Jan. 24, 2019.
• Suffolk kept its record perfect against the Fighting Scots, 4-0.
• Welling had her second double-double of the season and of her collegiate career.  
• DeComo had a career-high eight free throws made.  

POST-GAME PIC
  

SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
Suffolk concludes its abbreviated 2020-21 season.