Women’s Basketball Holds Off Endicott to Close Regular Season, 58-51

BEVERLY, Mass. – Suffolk women's basketball took an early lead it managed to hang onto despite every comeback effort from Endicott for the Rams to lock up a 58-51 Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) victory Saturday afternoon at MacDonald Gymnasium. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 58 | Endicott 51
RECORDS: Suffolk (18-7, 12-6 CCC) | Endicott (15-10, 12-6 CCC) 

HOW IT HAPPENED
The teams were even through the first five minutes with an even 6-6 score on the board. Suffolk commanded the remainder of the first frame to take a 14-9 lead after the first half.  

In the first 3:34 of the second quarter, the Rams got hot from the field to quickly build an 11-point, 23-12 advantage. The 9-3 run was capped off by back-to-back triples from Natalie Fraioli.

The Gulls responded with a pair of treys of their own to trim the margin back to a pair of possessions. It was an even paced game for the rest of the half, which allowed Suffolk to hang onto a slim edge, 30-26, as the teams headed to the locker room. 

Suffolk held Endicott scoreless for the first 3:23 of the third quarter. That scoring lull allowed the Rams to build a 10-point advantage, 36-26. The Gulls offense figured things out, but never truly came back and the blue-and-gold took a 40-33 cushion into the final frame. 

See-saw action allowed Suffolk to maintain its advantage in the fourth. Endicott was eager to make a comeback though and made things interesting with 35 seconds left when Katelyn Konareski knocked down a bucket from behind-the-arc.  

Luckily for the Rams, they went 4-for-6 at the line the rest of the way and the Gulls were unable to convert on any more offensive tries to keep the victory in Suffolk's favor. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Fraioli paved the way offensively and defensively for the Rams. The senior supplied a 17-point, 10-rebound double-doubl off the bench. She shot 5-for-9 from the floor, which included a 2-for-3 showing from 3-ponit range. 
• Gabriella DeComo contributed 16 points on a 5-for-12 showing from the field to go along with six caroms, one block and one steal. 
• Amanda DeAngelis recorded seven points, six rebounds and one swat. 
• Emily Welling added six points, six boards, three helpers and three blocks. 
• Jenni-Rose DiCecco had an all-around game of eight rebounds, five points, three assists and three steals. 
• Suffolk commanded the glass, outrebounding the Gulls, 48-35.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk moved to 12-16 all-time against Endicott. 
• The Rams improved to 5-10 versus the Gulls in Beverly. 
• Fraioli registered her second collegiate double-double, both of which came in 2021-22.  

POST-GAME PIC
 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk turns its attention to the CCC post season. The Rams, who will make their debut in the CCC tournament, await the official seeding by the league office that should be announced later this evening.