The Mount Ida College women's basketball team dropped their first Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) loss of the season to visiting Suffolk University falling 65-55 Saturday afternoon in the backend of a double header with the men's team. Mustang senior center Katie Morvan (Northbridge, MA/Northbridge) was honored before the contest as the fifth player in program history to eclipse 500 rebounds in a career.
The hosts fall to an overall record of 8-6 with a GNAC slate of 2-1 while the visitors improve to a season standing of 9-5 with a league bid of 2-1.
Mount Ida was led by a team-high 16 points from junior transfer Evebonee Acosta (Hartford, CT/Bulkeley/Gold-Beacom College) chipping in 16 points on 6-14 shooting from the floor. Sophomore Abbey Fedigan (New Fairfield, CT/New Fairfield) added 11 points while freshman forward Jenn Rafuse (Brockton, MA/Brockton) tallied nine points and six caroms respectively.
The Rams saw all five starters in double figures peaked with a game-high 19 point performance from sophomore forward Jennifer Ruys (Wallingford, CT/Lyman Hall) on 7-14 shooting. Senior forward Mary Garon (Auburn, NH/Trinity) recorded 12 points and four rebounds while junior Jacqueline Vienneau (Salem, NH/Central Catholic) and senior Meghan Black (Roslindale, MA/Archbishop Williams) added 11 points a piece. Freshman guard Iliana Quadri (Sudbury, MA/Lincoln-Sudbury) chipped in 10 points as well.
Through the first 11 minutes of the contest, the Rams drove through a 25-9 run cracking open a 16 point lead capped on a Vienneau lay-in. Mount Ida struggled from all over the court offensively unable to get any rhythm going.
The double-digit lead by Suffolk continued for the remainder of the first stanza while the Mustangs shooting woes continued heading into the locker room with the Rams commanding a half-high 17 point lead after a Black lay-up. The visitors dominated the paint for the entire frame scoring 20 of their 37 points down low.
Suffolk's lead inflated to a game-high 23 points (45-22) in the opening three and a half minutes following a Ruys jumper.
Mount Ida cut the advantage down to 15 points (45-30) at the 12:43 mark after a successful free throw attempt by Morvan.
The small attempt at a comeback was snuffed out quickly by the Rams inflating their lead to 21 points (54-33) capped on a Garon lay-in with nine minutes to go in the contest.
The big double-digit visitor advantage maintained for the remainder of the game, the Mustangs ended the contest with 6-0 run eventually falling 65-55 for their first league loss of the season.
The Mustangs will travel to GNAC foe St. Joseph's College (ME) Monday evening with game time slated for 5:30 p.m.