BOSTON – Clutch baskets from Akiyah Brown and Olivia Verdile in the final minute helped Suffolk women's basketball to a 45-42 Conference of New England (CNE) victory over the University of New at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court.

Prior to tip-off, Suffolk recognized the playing careers of graduating juniors Allison Bono and Delaney More.

THE BASICS
SCORE: Suffolk 45 | University of New England 42
RECORDS: Suffolk (11-12, 5-9 CNE) |University of New England (12-11, 10-4 CNE) 

HOW IT HAPPENED

• Suffolk was held without a field goal until Allison Bono's triple at the 2:27 mark sparked a 7-0 finish to the quarter to lead 11-10 after the first quarter. 
• UNE opened the second frame on a 12-5 run to take a 22-16 advantage with 2:53 to play in the half. T the Rams responded with a 9-3 stretch combined by five points from Ava Thurman and four by Bono to tie the game heading into halftime at 25-all.
• The Nor'easters opened the half on a 10-0 run and forced Suffolk into a timeout at the 5:41 mark. Claire Berkowitz knocked down a three and converted a pair from the charity stripe to slice the deficit in half at 35-30. Both teams added a basket in the closing stages as UNE took a 38-32 edge into the final frame.
• Back-to-back three-point makes from Olivia Verdile and Thurman capped an 8-0 Rams run that tied the game for a fourth time at 40 with six minutes remaining. 
• Strong defensive possessions down the stretch saw UNE leading 42-41 with just under one minute to play. A putback lay-in from Akiyah Brown put Suffolk in front for the first time since the second quarter at 43-42 with 44 seconds left. After forcing another stop, Verdile added the dagger with a midrange jumper from the corner to close out the contest with a 45-42 victory.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Bono led all scorers with 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds.
• Thurman chipped in 10 points, nine boards, and five assists.
• Verdile added eight points and seven rebounds.
• The Rams held the Nor'easters to 26.2 shooting percent from the field and 14.3 percent from beyond-the-arc.
• Suffolk outrebounded UNE 42-37 and held advantages in bench points (22-15) and second chance points (7-6). 

NOTEWORTHY

• Suffolk improved to 3-8 in the all-time series.
• All three of the blue-and-golds wins over UNE have come in Boston. Suffolk is now 3-2 all-time in versus the Nor'Easters in Title Town. 
• The Rams defeated the Nor'Easters for the first time since Jan. 28, 2025, a 59-52 win.  
• Verdile's seven rebounds tied her career-high. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk hosts Endicott in the home finale Tuesday, Feb. 17 at 5:30 p.m.