POINTS OFF THE BENCH POWER SAINTS PAST SUFFOLK, 76-63

BOSTON, Mass. - The Suffolk Women's Basketball team hosted the Emmanuel College Saints in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action on Saturday afternoon in Regan Gymnasium. The Saints utilized a balanced scoring attack and a come from behind effort  to take care of their cross-town rivals, 76-63.  The win boosted Emmanuel to 12-6 overall and the Saints remain unbeaten in GNAC action at 4-0.  Suffolk fell to 10-7 on the season and 4-2 in league play.

The Saints were the first to get on the board with a jumper from junior Vanessa Bramante (Stoneham, Mass.). The Rams answered with a jumper from junior Ilianna Quadri (Sudbury, Mass.).  Back and forth action ensued, until freshman Kelsey Schiebel (Windham, Mass.) hit a three-pointer to put the Rams out in front. The hosts held onto their lead until the middle of the first half, when EC freshman guard Olivia Marks (Canterbury, Mass.) drained a three to put the Saints up, 16-15, with 10:43 left in the half.

The lead switched hands five more times before the half was complete.  Suffolk senior Jennifer Ruys (Wallingford, Conn.) nailed a jump shot to put the Rams up one at 29-28 heading into the locker rooms at halftime.

Emmanuel came out of the break with renewed vengeance and immediately put points on the board. The Rams tied the game up again at 31-all, when freshman Georgia Bourikas (Hull,Mass.) netted a pair of free throws. The Saints pulled ahead on an 11-2 run, capped with a pair of freebies from Sarah Higgins (Groveland, Mass.), to take a 42-33 lead with 13:15 remaining.

The visitors never relinquished the lead, going up by as many as 18 points with eight minutes to go.  Suffolk mounted a late run of its own, cutting the deficit to eight points with 29 seconds left, but the Rams could not pull any closer and fell, 76-63.

Higgins led a trio of double-figure scorers for EC with her game-high 18 points.  Higgins' 18 and Jennifer Bujnowski's (Salem, N.H.) 13 were part of the Saints' 46 bench points on the afternoon.  Bramante finished with 13 points and 6 rebounds, while Lena Negri (Arlington, Va.) chipped in with 9 points in the win.

Suffolk had four players in the double digits. Schiebel led the way with a team high 16 points. Ruys netted 14, while Quadri pitched in with 12 points.  Junior Torri Brillaud (North Andover, Mass.) would round it out with 10 points and a team-high 7 rebounds.

Suffolk will host UMass Boston on Tuesday at 7pm in nonconference play. Emmanuel will host Simmons College in GNAC action on Tuesday at 7pm in the Jean Yawkey Center.

- Portions of this release courtesy of Suffolk University Sports Information