Comeback Falls Short for Women’s Basketball at JWU

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – The Suffolk women's basketball team could not complete a comeback Thursday night at the Wildcat Center as the Rams fell to Johnson & Wales, 50-44, in GNAC action. 

Chelsea Campellone put together her ninth double-double effort for Suffolk (11-9, 3-3 GNAC) with a a game-high 16-point and 12-rebound effort. Georgia Bourikas and Caitlyn Caramello also provided an offensive spark for the Rams with each of the reserves registering seven points. 

Johnson & Wales received 13 points from Ashley Thompson, while Bobbie Whitehead contributed 14 rebounds and seven points. 

The first quarter was a low for both teams as Suffolk was held without a field goal of the first 10 minutes and both squads were under double figure points. All three of the Rams points came off freebies. Unlike the blue-and-gold, JWU was able to put a few hoops in from the field to hold an 8-3 edge heading into the second quarter. 

Campellone was the first player for Suffolk to make a bucket from the field, as the senior put in a jump shot just 51 seconds into the second stanza. Suffolk slowly found its offense, but not quick enough as the Wildcats jumped ahead by 10, 20-10. Campellone heated up for the Rams, however, and put in back-to-back buckets to make it a 24-16 game in favor of JWU at the half. 

Suffolk, who shot a sluggish 24 percent (6-25) as a team over the first 20 minutes, used Campellone's first-half performance to hang with Johnson & Wales, who also struggled from the field (29.4%). After two quarters, Campellone was on the verge of her ninth double-double of the season with 11 points and seven rebounds. 

Alessandra Quadri opened the scoring in the third quarter before the Wildcats put in five quick points to take an 11-point advantage. The Rams chipped away at the deficit, but the hosts lead stood. Caramello cut things down to nine, before two freebies from Alexandra Clarke brought the Rams within seven, 33-26, with 2:49 remaining in the quarter. Kristen Habbel struck from deep to bring the margin back to double figure just 34 seconds before the buzzer signaled the end of the third stanza. 

A 6-0 run at the midway point of the fourth frame brought Suffolk within seven. After a JWU hoop, Bourikas' three cut the lead to six with 1:27 remaining. Now less than a minute remained and Bobbie Whitehead sunk a layup before the Rams took the risk of the foul game. The risk payed off, but the Rams could not capitalize until the six second mark when Alexandra Nagri made a 3-pointer, but there was not enough time to complete the comeback and the 50-44 score stood. 

The teams shot almost identical, but JWU held a very slim edge, 27.8-27.3. Suffolk held the advantage in rebounds, 55-47, and bench points, 16-8, but the Wildcats were ahead in points off turnovers, 22-11, and points in the paint, 20-16. 

Suffolk will be back in action Saturday afternoon when it entertains Norwich at 1 p.m.