Women's Basketball Runs Streak To Five In 72-63 Victory Over Suffolk

Worcester, MA --- Junior Bianca Langford (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) finished with game-highs of 22 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks as she helped propel Worcester State to a 72-63 triumph over Suffolk on Thursday afternoon at the Harrington Auditorium.

The Lancers, winners of seven out of their last eight games improve to 8-3 on the campaign while the Rams fall to 3-8 in the setback.

Worcester State held the early 15-12 edge with 7:59 remaining in the opening stanza before freshman Brianna Hackett (Hollis, NH) converted a lay-up and connected on a triple in a 9-0 run to help the hosts balloon their margin to 24-12 three minutes later.

Suffolk responded with an 8-2 run as a trio of Rams contributed with buckets highlighted by senior Shelby Santini (Winchester, MA), junior Chelsea Campellone (Fall River, MA/Durfee) and sophomore Kelsey Schiebel (Windham, NH), which narrowed the deficit to 26-20 at the 2:45 mark.

The Lancers maintained their poise and utilized a pair of lay-ups by Langford in the final minutes of the frame to settle for the 35-25 score at the intermission.

Following a field goal in the paint by WSU senior Shannen El-Qasem (Rutland, MA) to start off the second stanza, the Rams rattled off a 15-5 spurt and trailed 43-40 with 14:35 left in regulation. Suffolk senior Iliana Quadri (Sudbury, MA) ignited the rally with a three-pointer and she chipped in with seven points in the surge.

Over the next eight minutes, both teams went basket for basket as the Lancers kept their opponents at bay and Suffolk remained in the game with key three throws and field goals down the stretch.

After Quadri hit a jumper and Santini sank a pair of points at the charity stripe to trim it to four points at the 6:51 mark (54-50), the Blue and Gold utilized a 13-2 surge – underscored by two trifectas by Hackett – which gave Worcester State a 67-52 edge with 1:56 remaining in the game.

Suffolk responded over the next 44 seconds with a pair of trey's by Scheibel and a sophomore Alexandra Clarke (Boothbay Harbor, ME) which narrowed the deficit to seven points (67-60).

The Lancers, however, canned five of their last six shots at the line to secure the win and improve to 8-2 in the all-time series against the Rams.

Hackett and senior Kiesha Jones (Worcester, MA/Doherty) both netted 11 points for the Blue and Gold as freshman Nani Perez (Worcester, MA/Holy Name) finished with 10 points and five helpers.

Quadri led all Suffolk players with 20 points while Santini and Schiebel contributed 13 and 12 points, respectively. Campellone registered 10 points with six rebounds.

Worcester State shot a blistering 47 percent for the contest (28-for-60) and ended the contests in all the major key categories with leading margins in points off turnovers (22-19), fast-break baskets (13-8) and points in the paint (34-28).

The hosts, however, struggled at the free throw stripe (12-for-19 – 63 percent).

In addition to leading in rebounds (41-36) and offensive caroms (12-7), Suffolk actually shot 38 percent overall for the game (24-for-64), but had problems on their long range attack converting only five of their 16 tries from three-point land.

The Rams also outscored the hosts, 38-37, in the final period.

Worcester State opens MASCAC play this weekend on the road this Saturday in a 1 o'clock meeting with MCLA. Suffolk takes on Curry in a 7 PM home match-up on Monday.