Third Quarter Sends Women’s Basketball Past USJ, 68-46

BOSTON – The Suffolk women's basketball team sprang out of the locker room for a monster third quarter, outscoring St. Joseph (Conn.), 26-12, en route to a 68-46 GNAC triumph Saturday afternoon inside Regan Gymnasium. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 68, St. Joseph (Conn.) 46
RECORDS: Suffolk (14-6, 9-2 GNAC) | St. Joseph (Conn.) (7-11, 2-8 GNAC)

HOW IT HAPPENED
Two minutes ticked off the clock before either team connected for a hoop. Alexandra Clarke broke open what would turn into a tight first quarter at the 7:52 minute mark. After a Georgie Bourikas triple the hosts gained a four-point edge. The Blue Jays hung around and chipped away at the Rams lead to lock the game at 10-all after the first 10 minutes. 

In the second stanza, it took nearly three minutes for the blue-and-gold to put in a bucket. USJ took advantage OF Suffolk's scoring lull and put the Rams in a 14-10 hole. A long ball from Kelsey Schiebel jump started the Rams' rally as Bourikas tied the game at 14-14, before a fast-break layup from Alexandra Nagri gave the hosts their first lead since the first quarter. 

The contest would equalize at 16-16, before Alexis Hackett took over the game at the charity stripe. Thanks to five freebies from the freshman Suffolk went out in front, 22-17. The teams traded free throws down the stretch and Suffolk took a 23-18 edge into the locker room. 

USJ slimmed Suffolk's margin to two, 25-23, in the opening of the third frame.  The Rams ran off seven consecutive points to grab a 34-25 advantage at the midpoint of the quarter. Out of a Blue Jays timeout, Caitlyn Caramello sparked another Suffolk surge, this time, a 13-2 run, which featured seven points from Schiebel, that made it a 49-30 Suffolk game after 30 minutes. 

Suffolk's reserves kept the Blue Jays at a distance and maintained the Rams advantage, securing the 68-46. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Schiebel led Suffolk's scoring with 15 points, include 12 in the instrumental third quarter. The senior floor general was the most potent shooter for the Rams, going 4-for-9 from the field, 3-for-7 from behind the arc and a perfect 4-for4 at the foul line. She set-up two other shots and added two boards to her offensive performance.
• Clarke finished the day with 10 points and 10 rebounds, seven of which came in the first quarter. She went 5-for-8 from the field and swatted six Blue Jay attempts.
• Caramello paced the rams on the glass with 13 rebounds off the bench. Offensively, the senior contributed seven points and two handouts.
• Off the bench, Hackett put in an eight-point, three-carom day thanks to a 2-for-3 showing from the field and a 4-for-5 effort at the charity stripe.
• Suffolk finished the day with a 36.9 connection rate (24-65) from the floor, 33.3 showing (5-15) from three, all but one of which came off the fingertips of Schiebel, and shot 68.2 percent (15-22) from the line.
• The Rams outrebounded the Blue Jays, 56-35.
• USJ put on the pressure and captured 15 steals, five more than the Rams, forcing 25 blue-and-gold turnovers compared to 22 from the Blue Jays. Both teams transitioned off the others mistakes, turning turnovers into 17 points apiece. 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk captured its 12th straight victory over USJ to move to 19-2 since 1997 versus the Blue Jays.
• Clarke put together her second double-double of her collegiate career with 10 points and 10 rebounds.
• Clarke had all six of the Rams' blocks marking the most by a Ram since Shelby Santini swatted seven in a 73-70 setback to Regis Nov. 19, 2014. 

POST-GAME PIC

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk continues its home stretch Thursday, Feb. 4 when Lasell comes to Regan Gymnasium for a 7 p.m. tilt.