Jan. 10, 2012

Box Score

Boston, Mass. -- The Emmanuel College Women's Basketball Team outlasted Suffolk University, 64-58, on Tuesday night in Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) action. The win improved the Saints to 8-4 on the season and 2-0 in the league, while the Rams dropped to 8-5 on the season and 1-1 in GNAC play. Freshman forward Lena Negri (Arlington, Va.) posted her first collegiate double-double, leading all scorers with 19 points and collecting a season-high 13 rebounds for the Saints.

The Rams made things interesting in the final two minutes of the game as they nearly closed a 12-point deficit with three straight three-point shots, but the Saints were able to hang on for the win. The Rams could only muster seven total points in the opening twelve and a half minutes of the second half, as the visitors built a 17-point lead with seven minutes remaining in the contest.

Late in the game, Suffolk junior Jacqueline Vienneau (Salem, N.H.) connected on a three-ball with eighty-two seconds remaining to make it a 62-51 game in favor of the Saints. Junior Chenae Earle (South Orange, N.J.) then answered by netting one of her two free throws to put Emmanuel back up by double digits with thirty seven seconds left. Suffolk senior Mary Garon (Auburn, N.H.) then took a pass from Vienneau and drained a trey of her own to give the Rams some life in the closing seconds of the game.

After a pair of missed free throws, senior Meghan Black (Roslindale, Mass.) drilled a baseline three with eleven seconds on the clock and cut the margin to four points. However, Emmanuel sophomore Bria Tiro (Saugus, Mass.) showed poise down the stretch and dropped both free throws with eight second left to seal the victory for the Saints.

Negri's 19 points led a trio of double-figure scorers for Emmanuel. Tiro finished with 15 points, including hitting three from behind the arc. Senior guard Meghan Kirwan (Melrose, Mass.) netted 11 points, while junior forward Fiona O'Dwyer (Stamford, Conn.) grabbed 12 boards for the Saints. Sophomore Victoria Johnson (Syracuse, N.Y.) played a strong defensive first half, blocking four shots for the visitors.

Garon finished the game with a team-high 15 points for the Rams, while Vieanneau scored 11. Freshman Tori Brillaud (North Andover, Mass.) led all rebounders in the contest with 14 boards.

Emmanuel's defensive pressure proved to be overwhelming for the Rams in the rematch of last year's GNAC championship game, as Suffolk struggled to get the ball out of the backcourt. The Saints forced 25 total turnovers, which resulted in 16 points, combined with Suffolk shooting thirty-percent from the field on the night.

Both teams will be return to GNAC action on Saturday. Emmanuel will host Rivier College at 1:00pm, while Suffolk travels to Mount Ida College for a 5:00pm matchup.

- Courtesy of Suffolk University Sports Information