Women’s Basketball Handles Salem State, 79-61

SALEM, Mass. – A dozen different Rams provided at least two points to help Suffolk women's basketball run past Salem state, 79-61, Monday night at Twohig Gymnasium. The victory pushed the blue-and-gold to a 4-0 start, its best season-opening since beginning 2011-12 with the same ledger.  

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 79 | Salem State 61
RECORDS: Suffolk (4-0) | Salem State (4-2)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
After a back-and-forth opening, Colby Guinta's triple jump started an 11-0 Rams run that gave the blue-and-gold a 16-6 edge with 2:31 left in the opening frame. Hoop-for-hoop action closed out the quarter with Suffolk up, 20-10.  

More see-saw action started the second stanza before Suffolk's offense compiled a 16-5 stretch to grab comfortable 40-19 cushion with just under four minutes remaining before half time. Things evened out the rest of the way and the blue-and-gold took a 47-25 advantage into the locker room. 

Suffolk continued to lengthen its lead in the third, going up by as many as 29 but free throws by Ernidia Goncalves made it a 70-43 game as the game headed to the fourth.  

Salem State surged out of its huddle, outscoring the Rams, 9-0, to trim the deficit down to 18, 70-52, at the 8:17 mark. 

Just about 2.5 minutes later, Ava Thurman ended the blue-and-gold's scoring draught with a jumper to restore the 20-point gap. 

The Vikings continued to attempt to climb back, but the Rams kept the host at a comfortable distance to roll to the win.  

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Lauren Romito paced a well-balance off with 12 points on a 5-for-7 showing from the floor. She grabbed nine boards to go along with five assists and five blocks. 
• Jordan Moreau provided 10 points on a 3-for-4 effort from the field that included a 2-for-2 showing from downtown. The reigning CCC Rookie of the Week added two boards and one takeaway. 
• Olivia Verdile chipped in nine points, four caroms, three dimes and one steal in a reserve effort. 
• Amanda DeAngelis added eight points, seven rebounds and one helper. 
• Guinta finished with eight points on a 3-for-4 effort that included a 2-for-2 performance from behind-the-arc and one helper. 
• As a team, Suffolk shot 46.4 percent (32-69) from the floor, 40.9 percent (9-22) from 3-point land and 75.0 percent (6-8) from the charity stripe.
• Suffolk outrebounded Salem State, 47-39.
• Over half of Salem State's 61 points came in the paint (36). 
• The Rams reserves produced 38 points, while the Vikings received no offensive output from their bench players.  

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk started a season 4-0 for the first time since 2011-12 when it began that campaign with an identical ledger. 
• The Rams have defeated Salem State and three straight meetings to take a 3-2 lead in the all-time series with the Vikings. 
• On the road, Suffolk is now 2-1 against SSU. 
• Romito registered a career-high in assists (5) and blocks (5). 
• Aisling Crowley matched a personal-best two helpers.
• Akiyah Brown logged a career high in rebounds (4), assists (1), steals (1) and blocks (2). 
• Madison Michienzie notched the first points of her collegiate career and finished with a career-best in points (2), and caroms (1). 
• Claire Berkowitz recorded a career-high in points (6), 3-point field goals made (2), and steals (2) and matched a personal-best in field goals made (2) and rebounds (2). 
• Thurman tallied the first points of her college career and finished with four and the first-ever takeaway of her Suffolk career and matched a personal-best two boards. 
• Delaney More wrote a career-high in points (4), field goals made (2), rebounds (4) and steals (1). 
• Verdile produced a career-high in points (9), free throws made (2), rebounds (5) and assists (3).

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk takes its unbeaten mark into CCC action as the Rams return to the North Shore Wednesday, Nov. 29 for their conference opener at Gordon at 5:30 p.m.