WOMEN’S BASKETBALL CRUISES PAST SUFFOLK,64-48

BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College women's basketball team posted a 64-48 victory over Suffolk University Thursday evening at the Jean Yawkey Center in Great Northeast Athletic Conference action. With the win, EC improves to 9-9 overall and a perfect 4-0 in GNAC play while the loss drops the Rams to 6-11 and 3-2 in the GNAC.

Both teams got off to a slow start as the Saints held a slim 4-2 lead five minutes into the contest. Suffolk would take a 7-6 lead following a jumper by senior guard Iliana Quadri (Sudbury, Mass.) but a jumper by EC freshman guard Sasha Puglisi (Cross River, N.Y.) put Emmanuel back on top, 8-6.

On the next possession Quadri buried another jumper to give the visitor's a 9-8 lead but it would turn out to be their last lead of the evening as a layup by EC sophomore forward Alexis Ezell (Acworth, Ga.) gave Emmanuel the lead for good.

Ezell's basket was the start of a 9-0 Emmanuel run to give the hosts a 15-9 lead with just over 10 minutes to play in the half. The Rams were held scoreless for over five minutes of play before senior forward Shelby Santini (Winchester, Mass.) drained a three to cut the lead to 15-12 with 7:31 left in the first half.

Quadri would pull the Rams to within a basket at 17-15 with 6:06 remaining in the half but Emmanuel closed out the stanza strong, scoring 15 points over the final five minutes to take a 32-24 lead into halftime.

Quadri led all scorers at the break with nine while Santini had eight. Ezell topped the Saints with seven points but the big difference at the half was Emmanuel's bench outscoring the Rams reserves, 18-8.

Emmanuel opened the second half with a 6-0 spurt capped with a fast break layup by sophomore guard Oliva Marks (Canterbury, Conn.), assisted by senior forward Jennifer Bujnowski (Salem, N.H.) to bump the lead to 38-24.

Minutes later, Bujnowski converted a layup of her own to make it 44-26 and on the next possession, EC senior forward Vanessa Bramante (Stoneham, Mass.) gave the Saints their first 20 point lead of the night at 46-26 with a layup in transition.

An old-fashion three point play from Santini pulled the Rams to within 19 at 51-32 with just under 12 minutes remaining. The score stayed there until Suffolk freshman forward Caitlyn Caramello (Revere, Mass.) finished a tough shot in the paint to make it 51-34 with 9:01 left to play.

A pair of Bujnowski free throws bumped the lead to 59-38 with 5:30 remaining and it would prove to be plenty as Emmanuel cruised to a 64-48 GNAC victory.

Ezell led the Saints with 12 points while Bujnowski added 11 points in the win.

Quadri led all scorers with 13 points and needs just 13 points to score her 1,000 career point.

Each squad returns to action on this Saturday, January 31 in GNAC play. The Saints host Lasell College while the Rams host the University of Saint Joseph (CT). Both games are scheduled for a 1:00 PM tip.