Lasers’ Comeback Falls Short Against Suffolk

Newton, Mass.- Lasell's comeback began just a bit too late against Suffolk University this afternoon as the Lasers women's basketball team fell to the visiting Rams, 60-53.  Katie Schumitz (Milford, Conn.) produced a game-best seventeen points, and also picked up four rebounds for Lasell in the defeat, as the Lasers fall to 6-13 overall, and 3-3 in conference play.  Suffolk's Meghan Tracey  (Rehoboth, Mass.) lifted the Rams to 9-8, and 3-4 in the GNAC, with a 14 point and 14 rebound performance.

The Lasers and the Rams tied the score at 6-all after three minutes and remained in that deadlock until a three-pointer by Kelsey Converse (Laconia, NH) gave Lasell the upper hand in the 13th minute. The visitors took over control of the board at 10:02, when Tracey connected on an uncontested lay up, then controlled the floor to go up 27-14 by the two minute mark.  Lasell inched their way back with a three-point play by Katie Farr (Rindge, NH) followed by Schumitz trey and two free throws by Shauna Kelly (Quincy, Mass.) to close the gap to only six at the intermission.

Suffolk opened with a 10 point stretch in the first two and a half minutes of the second to cushion their lead.  Schumitz broke their run with another long shot from downtown, but the Rams continued to push ahead.  The Rams held a double-figure advantage until just under three minutes.

The Lasers dug in for a comeback with a full-court trap that brought the game back within seven in their final stint, but unfortunately their time ran short as the clock ticked down.   The Rams held on for a 60-53 win on the Lasers' court.

The Rams, who shot 51% from the floor, also held a 41-33 rebounding advantage in the contest.  Both teams struggled from the free throw line, Lasell shooting 65.4%, as opposed to Suffolk's 50%.   But it was the Lasers who could not catch a break, shooting only 28% from the field.

In addition to Tracey, Julianne Conrad (West Bridgewater, Mass.) was a threat for Suffolk, hitting for 13 points in the game.  Farr finished with 10 points for Lasell, adding three assists and two steals, and Tricia Culver (N. Hampton, Mass.) culminated with eight points and six rebounds.

The Lasers host Rivier College on Wednesday, February 4th at 7:00 p.m. while Suffolk travels to Newbury College to take on the Nighthawks on February 2nd.