Women's Basketball Comes Up Short in CCC Quarterfinals at UNE, 63-53

BIDDEFORD, Maine – In a game that featured a dozen lead changes and 13 tied scores, the seventh-seeded Suffolk women's basketball team faltered in the fourth frame to come out on the wrong side of a 63-53 decision versus second-seed University of New England in the CCC Quarterfinals at Coach Beaudry's Court Tuesday night. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 53 | University of New England 63
RECORDS: Suffolk (13-13) | University of New England (18-8)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
A good jumper by Katie Kirsch followed by a triple from Madi Mahoney gave Suffolk an 8-4 edge at the 4:37 mark of the opening quarter. Six unanswered points by the Nor'Easters pushed the host ahead, 10-8, with 2:44 remaining in the first frame.  

The score locked twice, with the last coming at 12-all when Maddie Stewart converted a layup off an Amanda DeAngelis steal.  UNE looked to even things up on its next possession, however, Arlenis Veloz had a takeaway of her own that she turned into two points to push the Rams in front, 14-12, at the end of the first.  

UNE poured in the first points of the second stanza to go ahead, 15-14. The teams would trade points from there which saw the score tie four times with the last at 20-20 with 2:47 remaining before half time.  

The Nor'Easters would go on to outscore Suffolk, 6-3 the rest of the way to send the Rams into the locker room chasing three, 26-23. 

Mahoney made a 3-pointer and Kirsch followed that with a layup to regain the advantage for Suffolk out of half time. The pace of play evened out as the lead flipped six times and the score leveled four with the last coming at 39-all with 36 seconds left in the quarter. 

Mahoney broke the knotted score with a good jump to send Suffolk in front, 41-39, as the game headed to the fourth frame.      

Suffolk's offense fell short in the fourth frame and UNE capitalized, quickly taking the lead and stretch it to double figures by the midway point of the final frame. 

The Rams cut the distance down to six on three occasions, the last came with 45 seconds to play, 59-53.  

The blue-and-gold would not get any closer as Juliana Tracey made a jumper for the host a costly turnover by Stewart sealed up the setback for Suffolk.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• DeAngelis put together a 13-point, seven-rebound, three-steal, two-assist, two-block performance. She shot 6-for-13 on the night. 
• Mahoney matched DeAngelis' offensive output with 13 points of her own to go along with a pair of caroms, one helper, one block and one steal. 
• Kirsch logged 10 points, three handouts and two boards. 
• Guinta added eight points on a 3-for-4 showing from the floor that including a 2-for-2 performance from behind-the-arc, to go along with three boards. 
• Stewart produced eight rebounds, five points, two blocks and one set-up. 
• UNE outrebounded the Rams, 45-34. 
• UNE converted Suffolk's 20 turnovers into 17 points. 
• The Nor'Easters turned their 21 offensive rebounds into 18 points. 
• Both teams utilized scoring in the paint. Suffolk put in 16 points in the key, while UNE poured in 18 points in the paint.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk made its second trip to the CCC Tournament, first as the seventh seed. 
• The Rams played on the road in the CCC postseason for the first time in program history. 
• Suffolk moved to 0-2 in the CCC Tourney. 
• The Rams and UNE met in the postseason for the first time in program history. 
• Suffolk moved to 1-4 all-time against UNE.  

POST-GAME PIC