Suffolk Holds Off Women's Hoops in GNAC Opener

BOSTON, Mass. (1/14/14) - The Lasell College women's basketball team suffered a slim defeat in their Great Northeast Athletic Conference opener, falling 74-66 at Suffolk University. The Lasers dipped to 6-7 on the season and 0-1 in Great Northeast Athletic Conference play while the Rams improved to 7-3 on the year and 2-0 in league action.

Lasell senior Kayla Vincelette (Westport, Mass.) scored a season-high 21 points to go along with six rebounds and three assists. Danielle Autencio (Montvillle, Conn.) posted a double-double effort for the Lasers, scoring 12 points and grabbing a season-high 17 rebounds while Brianna Williams (Bloomfield, Conn.) chipped in a career-high 12 points off the bench. 

Jennifer Ruys (Wallingford, Conn.) scored a game-high 31 points for Suffolk while securing 11 rebounds in the contest. The senior forward finished 11-25 from the field and converted nine of 10 from the free throw line in recording hee fourth double-double of the season. Shelby Santini (Winchester, Mass.) netted 18 points while freshman Georgia Bourikas (Hull, Mass.) chipped in with 10 points on the night.

Autencio opened the scoring just over two minutes into the contest with a jumper before Suffolk went on an 8-0 run to build an early lead with with just less than five minutes gone in the contest. Lasell responded by outscoring the Rams 17-3 over the next six minutes, taking their biggest lead of the contest at 19-11 with 9:55 remaining in the opening half. Lasell still held their eight point edge at 22-14 following a Vincelette free throw with  8:31 to play in the opening half. 

Suffolk cut the Lasers lead to two before consecutive hoops by Rebeka Costa (Metheun, Mass.) and Vincelette rebuilt the visitors lead to six at 30-24 with 2:17 before intermission. A pair of free throws by Santini started a Suffolk rally and her lay-up with four seconds left in the half put the Rams ahead 32-31 at the break. 

The two teams played a back-and-forth early part to the second half, with the Rams going in fromt by four on several occasions only to see Lasell rally back and tie the score. A pair of free throws by Williams tied the score at 53-53 with 9:17 to play before the hosts finally put together a sustained run. A pair of free throws by Ruys started the spourt which was capped off by a Kelsey Schiebel three pointer that put Suffolk ahead 64-53 with just under seven minutes remaining.

The Lasers would trim the deficit to as little as five in the waning moments of the contest but were unable to overcome the Suffolk advantage, falling 74-66. Suffolk outrebounded the Lasers 46-40, helping them overcome a 35.1% performance from the floor and a 5-22 effort from three point land. Lasell shot 46% from the floor for the contest, and converted 17-22 from the free throw line.

Suffolk will return to action on Saturday January 18th when they host Rivier University while Lasell will take on non-conference foe Pine Manor on Thursday January 16th at 7:00 p.m.