Balanced Scoring Effort Lifts Women’s Basketball Over Nichols, 76-68

BOSTON – Four Rams reached double-digit points to pace Suffolk women's basketball to a 76-68 victory over Nichols in Conference of New England (CNE) action on Tuesday night  at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 76 | Nichols 68
RECORDS: Suffolk (9-8, 3-5 CNE) | Nichols (9-9, 2-7 CNE)  

HOW IT HAPPENED 

• Nichols opened the contest on a 10-2 run fueled by five points from Alyvia Smith to force a Suffolk timeout at the 6:28 mark of the first quarter.
• A Jordan Moreau three-pointer capped a 9-0 run in a 1:56 stretch to allow Suffolk to retake the lead at 11-10 halfway through the opening period. The Rams pushed their advantage to 19-16 at the end of the first after consecutive lay-ins from Moreau.
• It was a two-possession game up until the final four minutes of the half when Suffolk went on a 9-2 rally, behind nine combined points between Allison Bono and Olivia Verdile, which put the host ahead, 42-31, at the break.  
• Nichols pulled within four by the end of the third frame thanks to a 9-2 run of its own out of its own timeout with 3:45 left in the third to make it 55-51 heading into the final stanza.
• Bono ended a 5:09 stretch without a field goal made for Suffolk with a trey to open the fourth frame. From there the two sides traded baskets down the stretch and Suffolk was able to ice the game down the stretch with clutch free-throw shooting.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING 

• Moreau finished with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting and seven boards.
• Bono trailed with 17 points on 6-of-11 shooting and added nine rebounds and six assists.
• Tatiana Tune recorded 16 points, three rebounds, and one steal.
• Ava Thurman provided a late spark with 12 points, three assists, two steals, and one block.
• Suffolk shot 49.1 percent from the field, while holding the Bison to 41.3 conversion rate. 
• The Rams forced 18 Nichols' turnovers and converted 21 points on those opportunities.
• The blue-and-gold held a slight 38-32 points in the paint advantage.

NOTEWORTHY 

• Suffolk improved its winning streak over Nichols to nine straight.
• The blue-and-gold now hold a 11-4 record against the Bison in Boston.
• Under head coach Ed Leyden, the Rams are 13-1 versus Nichols.
• Moreau tallied a career-best 19 points.
• Suffolk and Nichols met for the 30th time in program history.
• The Rams moved to 18-12 in the all-time series.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk stays at home on Saturday, Jan. 24, hosting Gordon at 1:00 p.m. at Smith Court.