Fourth Quarter Sends Women’s Basketball Past ENC, 65-57

QUINCY, Mass. – Suffolk women's basketball used a monster fourth quarter to take down Eastern Nazarene, 65-57, Saturday afternoon at Lahue Athletic Center. The win pushes the Rams to 2-0 on the year, the program's first 2-0 start since 2015-16.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 65 | Eastern Nazarene 57
RECORDS: Suffolk (2-0) | Eastern Nazarene (4-1)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk built a 16-7 lead over the first seven minutes of the contest. That quickly dwindled down to nothing as Eastern Nazarene outscored the Rams 11-2 over the final 3:10 to level the playing field at 18-all.  

In the second quarter, the scored knotted four times and the lead exchanged four times with the last coming in the Lions' favor, 32-31, with 1:12 to go before halftime. ENC maintained a three-point margin, 36-33, when the teams headed to the locker room.  

Suffolk worked its way back, took the edge on a pair of freebies by Amanda DeAngelis before the Lions evened matters at 59-all at the 5:19 mark of the third. From there, the host scored seven straight to put the Rams in a 46-39 hole with just under four minutes left in the third. 

Once again, the blue-and-gold played catch-up and a bucket from behind-the-arc by Claire Berkowitz tied things at 46. The lead toggled three times down the stretch and matters were locked at 50-all as the game headed to the fourth.  

A scoring draught hit both sides for the first 2:20 of the fourth frame. Suffolk struck first as Aisling Crowley's first hoop of the day sent the Rams in front for the final time. The junior's layup was the first of three unanswered blue-and-gold buckets that looked to be the difference as the Lions went without points for the first 4:31 of the fourth quarter. 

ENC figured its offense out though and chipped the distance down to one, 58-57, with 3:15 to go. Suffolk went on the keep its record perfect as it closed the game on a 7-0 run.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Lauren Romito compiled a 16-point, 11-rebound double-double. The graduate student shot 5-for-7 from the floor and 6-for-8 from the line. She added three blocks and a pair of assists. 
• DeAngelis contributed a 17-point, 13-point double-double of her own. She chipped in six handouts, three steals and one swat. 
• Maddie Stewart supplied double figures to the scoring unit as well with 11 points to go along with five caroms, three dimes and two takeaways. 
• Suffolk shot 38.2 percent on the afternoon (21-55) and just 20.0 percent (2-10) from downtown. 
• The Rams converted 70 percent (21-3) of their free throws. 
• Suffolk dominated the glass, outrebounding the Lions, 60-25. 
• Eastern Nazarene utilized Suffolk's 36 turnovers, turning them into 35 points. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk is starting the season 2-0 for the first time since 2015-16. 
• Suffolk defeated Eastern Nazarene for the third straight meeting to move to 8-5 all-time against the Lions. 
• On the road, the blue-and-gold is now 3-4 versus ENC. 
• DeAngelis had her second double-double of the season, 18th of her collegiate career. 
• Romito put together her second double-double in as many games of the year. 
• Both DeAngelis and Romito have compiled a double-double in both games for Suffolk this season. 
• DeAngelis dished out a career-high six assists. 
• Romito registered a Suffolk career-high in points (16), field goals made (5), free throws made (6) and rebounds (11) and matched a personal-best three swats. 
• Moreau matched a personal-best in points (7) and assists (1). The freshman had a career-high in free throws made and taken (5-5) and pulled down a personal-best six rebounds. 
• Berowitz drained the first triple of her collegiate career. She finished with three points and career-high three helpers. 
• Ava Thurman grabbed one rebound for the first time in her collegiate career. 
• Delaney More logged the first point of her collegiate career on a free throw. 
• Olivia Verdile matched a career-high one board.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk heads back to the friendly confines of Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court Tuesday, Nov. 21 when it entertains Salve Regina at 5:30 p.m.