Women’s Basketball Defeats UNE, 62-59, to End Regular Season

BOSTON – Suffolk women's basketball wrapped up its regular-season schedule in the win column as the Rams downed the University of New England, 62-59, Saturday at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court. 

The victory is the blue-and-gold's first over the Nor'Easters in program history and clinched a spot in the Commonwealth Coast Conference playoffs for Suffolk. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 62 | University of New England 59
RECORDS: Suffolk (13-12, 8-10 CCC) | University of New England (17-8, 13-5 CCC)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
Suffolk's defense came up big in the first two minutes as it kept the University without a field goal attempt to build a 7-0 early edge.  

Once the Nor'Easters converted their first hoop momentum was in the visitors favor as they built a 14-2 run to flip the script in their favor, 14-9. 

That advantage grew to seven, 19-12, at the end of the first frame.  

UNE continued to pour in the points to and Suffolk found itself in an 11-point, 21-12, hole at the 32 seconds into the second period. A layup from Katie Kirsch jump started a 15-1 Rams run that restored the lead for the host, 29-24, as the teams headed into half time. That scoring stretch featured four points from Kirsch, and Kendall Jacques and seven by Maddie Stewart. 

Five quick points by the Nor'Eastesr leveled the playing field at 29-all. Suffolk stormed ahead by nine, 42-33 thanks to a 13-4 spurt. Stewart was the main ingredient to that run as the sophomore supplied seven points. 

The Nor'Easters knocked down the distance by ending the third quarter with five unanswered to make it a 42-38 game as the action headed to the fourth. 

UNE caught up and tied things at 46-all at the 8:25 mark. From there, the lead switched four times, with the last coming in Suffolk's favor when Jacques took over in the post. The Rams' rookie coupled back-to-back buckets together to give the host a 58-53 cushion with 2:17 to go.  

The Rams in managed to maintain the lead despite the Nor'Easters cutting the gap to two, 58-56, with 28 seconds left on the board and went on to win the game from the free throw line. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Stewart had a team-high 18 behind a 7-for-14 showing from the floor that featured a 2-for-5 showing from downtown. She added seven boards, five helpers and our takeaways. 
• DeAngelis put together a 15-point, 10-rebould double-double. 
• Jacques registered a 12-point afternoon on a 4-for-6 performance from the floor. She grabbed seven boards and had one steal. 
• Kirsch contributed 10 caroms, eight points, five assists and two blocks. 
• Suffolk shot just 35.5 percent (24-68) on the afternoon and had a 20.0 conversion rate from 3-point range. 
• The Rams outrebounded the Nor'Easters 53-37. 
• Suffolk capitalized on its 21 offensive rebounds, scoring 14 second-chance points. 
• In the paint, the Rams poured in 38 points, compared to UNE's 16 in the key. 
• UNE, who was led by a game-high 20-point performance by Fay Veilleux.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk defeated the University of New England for the first time in program history. 
• The Rams moved to 1-3 all-time against the Nor'Easters. 
• In Boston, Suffolk sits 1-1 all-time versus UNE. 
• DeAngelis put together her 13th double-double of the year, 16th of her collegiate career.
• Kirsch matched a career-high five assists. 
• Stewart tied a personal-best four steals. 
• Jacques reset career highs in points (12) and field goals made (4) and tied a personal-best seven rebounds. 

POST-GAME PIC
  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk awaits the official seeding of the 2023 CCC Women's Basketball Tournament, which will be released following the conclusion of all regular season play this afternoon.