Fourth Quarter Sends Women’s Basketball by WNE, 66-53

BOSTON – A dominate fourth quarter by the Rams sent Suffolk women's basketball to a thrilling 66-53 triumph over Western New England Wednesday night at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court. The blue-and-gold outscored the Golden Bears 24-14 in the final 10 minutes of the Commonwealth Coast Conference clash. 

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 66 | Western New England 53
RECORDS: Suffolk (15-5, 9-3 CCC) | Western New England (15-5, 9-3 CCC)  

HOW IT HAPPENED
It would be a back-and-forth battle throughout the first half. In the opening quarter, Suffolk took a four-point lead early, 6-2, before things flipped flopped and tied once before the blue-and-gold gained a 12-10 edge at the end of the last 10 minutes.  

In the second, the Rams hung onto a 21-18 advantage with 4:12 to play before the teams headed to the locker room. The Golden Bears closed out the stanza with 10 unanswered to send Suffolk into the break down seven, 28-21. The late run for WNE came out of the visitors first timeout of the day. 

The Golden Bears hot streak that ended the second quarter carried into the third as Emma Novajasky knocked down a trifecta on the visitor's first possession to make it a double figure distance. The Rams rallied behind a 12-2 run to tie things at 35 at the 3:56 mark in the third.   

WNE remained in front until the final 13 seconds when Madi Mahoney made her third bucket from behind-the-arc to send Suffolk in front, 42-40, as the game moved into the fourth.  

The Golden Bears locked things for the fifth time in the outing on its first chance in the fourth. Suffolk controlled the pace of play after Jordan Moreau buried a trey to ignite a 13-2 Suffolk stretch that pushed the host ahead 55-44, with just four minutes left on the clock. 

Back-to-back hoops from the Golden Bears got the gap down to seven, 55-48, with 2:37 to go.  

Suffolk closed out the contest with a fast-break traditional 3-point play from Moreau and finesse at the free throw line as the Rams did not miss any of their eight attempts. 

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Amanda DeAngelis paced Suffolk. The forward had a 22-point, 16-rebound double-double with four steals, one block and one assist on her stat line. She shot 7-for-16 for the game and went 8-for-10 at the line. 
• Moreau joined DeAngelis in double figures in scoring with 14 points, eight of which came in the final frame. The freshman went 4-for-5 from the field, including a 2-=for-3 effort from 3-point range to go along with a pair of caroms. 
• Lauren Romito registered nine boards, eight points, six swats and two dimes. 
• Mahoney supplied nine points, three helpers, one steal and one rebound. 
• Aisling Crowley added five boards, three points, one assist, one block and one steal. 
• Colby Guinta had an all-around effort.  With six points, six rebounds, one assist and one steal on her stat line. 
• Suffolk finished the outing with a 33.9 percent conversion rate (21-62) from the floor.
• The Rams shot 90.0 percent (18-20) at the charity stripe. 
• Both teams struggled from the floor in the first half. Suffolk shot just 21.2 percent (7-33), while the Golden Bears went 29.7 percent (11-37). 
• Turnovers were plentiful on either side in the first 20 minutes as well. WNE had eight giveaways, while Suffolk was one shy of that mark. 
• Suffolk held a slim 47-46 edge on the glass. 
• WNE took advantage of its 19 offensive boards as it scored 17 points on second chances.
• The Rams transitioned well with 10 points on the fast break.  

NOTEWORTHY

• The Rams snapped a four-game skid against the Golden Bears. 
• Suffolk defeated Western New England for the first time since Dec. 4, 2021. 
• The blue-and-gold is now 9-9 versus WNE all-time. 
• At home, Suffolk took a 5-4 edge against the Golden Bears. 
• The Rams ran their win streak to four in a row. 
• DeAngelis logged her third consecutive 20-plus point game. This season, the senior has supplied 20 or more points four times. 
• DeAngelis had her third double-double in a row, 14th of the season and 30th of her collegiate career.
• Mahoney connected on three or more shots from 3-point land for the seventh time this season.  

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk heads across town Saturday, Feb. 3 for a CCC contest at Wentworth at 2:00 p.m.