Women’s Basketball Handles Emerson in Season Debut, 72-42

BOSTON – All dozen Rams on the 2021-22 roster contributed to Suffolk women's basketball's 72-42 season-opening triumph over Beantown rival Emerson Tuesday night at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 72 | Emerson 42
RECORDS: Suffolk (1-0) | Emerson (1-1)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk stormed out of the gates, outscoring Emerson 26-6 in the first quarter. The game got going with a 12-2 Rams run that saw four different players score. Gabriella DeComo powered that spurt with half of the host's points.

The Lions ended a 3:28 scoring draught with their second bucket of the night, however, that did not stall Suffolk from going on another tear, closing the frame with a 14-2 stretch. Six of the seven Rams that saw playing time in the first 10 minutes contributed at least one point to the 20-point advantage.  

The second stanza was evenly played with both Boston teams putting up 11 points. Thankfully, Suffolk's start allowed the Rams to take a comfortable 37-17 cushion into half time. 

Out of the locker rooms Chelsea Gibbons converted a trip to the free throw line into two points in an attempt to start an Emerson comeback. Natalie Fraioli had other things in mind as she answered the freebies with a layup followed by a triple to jump start another Suffolk scoring frenzy. The senior's five points came before an Ed Leyden timeout and eight consecutive blue-and-gold points came out of the huddle. That stretch made it a near 30-point distance, 50-21, with 2:56 on the clock in the third.  

The 30-point margin did in fact come a minute later as Maddie Stewart made back-to-back bunnies on the drive. Stewart's classmate Aisling Crowley put away her first collegiate hoop to push matters even further. Thanks to the Rams' underclassmen Suffolk sat in front 60-25 after 30 minutes.   

In the fourth frame, the Rams did not allow the Lions to get closer than 26 points to walk away with the 72-42 victory.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Eleven of Suffolk's 12 players produced at least one point. 
• Fraioli led the Rams' well-balanced scoring with a 15-point performance behind a 5-for-9 performance from the field, which included a perfect 3-for-3 showing from downtown. She added seven caroms, two assists, one block and one steal. 
• Sydney Richard contributed 10 points off the bench to go along with three boards. 
• Amanda DeAngelis had an all-around effort with nien rebounds, seven points, one dime and one swat in a reserve role. 
• Allie Lopes logged nine points, all of which came in the first half, five rebounds, four helpers and two blocks. 
• As a team, Suffolk shot just 39.1 percent (25-64) on the night and 77.3 percent (17-22) at the charity stripe. 
• The Rams outrebounded the Lions, 55-31. 
• Suffolk's short-range shots paid off as 52.3 percent (38-72) of the blue-and-gold points came in the paint. 
• The Rams converted in transition as well with 10 points on the fast break. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk won its third season opener in a row to move to 21-18 all-time in its first game of the year. 
• The Rams are now 17-11 in game one under Leyden. 
• The blue-and-gold played on its home hardwood, Smith Court, for the fourth straight season debut and fifth time overall. 
• The Rams are now 3-2 when flipping the page on the calendar at the familiar hardwood in the basement of the Ridgeway Building. 
• Suffolk won its third consecutive home opener. 
• Suffolk met is Boston Commons neighbor Emerson in its season debut for the first time. 
• The Rams defeated the Lions for the first time since Nov. 12, 2018. 
• The blue-and-gold improved to 27-6 all-time against Emerson. 
• Suffolk is now 19-5 versus Emerson in the Leyden era. 
• Crowley and Stewart made their collegiate debuts. 
• Marissa Gattuso and Sydney Noyes competed in a Suffolk jersey for the first time in their careers. 
• Fraioli matched a personal-best in 3-pointers made and blocks with three and one, respectively. 
• DeAngelis set a new career-high nine boards. 

POST-GAME PIC
  

COMING UP
Suffolk hits the road for the first time this season this Saturday, Nov. 13 when it visits Bridgewater State for a 12 p.m. tip-off.