BOSTON, Mass. - Sophomore forward Liz Brasa (East Hartford, Conn.) netted 13 points to lead the Simmons College women's basketball team in a 73-54 loss to host Suffolk University in a Great Northeast Athletic Conference game this afternoon at Regan Gymnasium in Boston, Mass. The Sharks fall to 5-17 overall and 1-8 in GNAC play, while the Rams improve to 9-12 and 5-2.

Suffolk dominated the glass, owning a 51-23 rebounding advantage.

The Rams scored 10 of the game's first 11 points, led by eight points from senior guard Lliana Quadri (Sudbury, Mass.), to take an 11-1 lead at the 17:46 mark of the first half. Sophomore guard Kimberlee Hixon (Taunton, Mass.) drained a three-pointer for Simmons' first field goal of the day, before the visitors pulled to within 12-6 with 16:46 to go in the opening half. Suffolk later increased its lead to 25-12 with 9:18 showing on the first half clock, before the Sharks ripped off five straight points to cut the deficit to 25-17 at 8:47. Junior guard Jennifer Janiak (Chelmsford, Mass.) scored all five points, including a trey to extend her streak to 22 games with a made three-pointer. The Rams shot back with 13 unanswered points to extend their margin to 38-17 at the 4:46 mark, paced by five points from sophomore guard Kelsey Schiebel (Windham, N.H.). Suffolk maintained its lead as it took a 43-24 cushion into the intermission.

First year forward Celina Jones (Milford, Mass.) later knocked down a jumper for Simmons to make it 50-30 with 16:52 showing in the second stanza. The Rams looked to put the game out of reach with a 16-8 run, led by eight points from Quadry, to take a 66-38 lead with 9:24 remaining in the contest. The Sharks played tough to close out the game, outscoring their hosts, 16-7, including five points from junior forward Gracie Rolfe (Newton, Mass.), to set the final score at 73-54.

Brasa was 5-10 from the floor for Simmons and added two rebounds, a block and a steal. Rolfe finished with nine points on 3-5 from the field and 2-2 from the free throw line in just seven minutes of action off the bench, while sophomore forward Ashley McAdams (Freeport, N.Y.) chipped in with seven points, four rebounds and a pair of steals.

Quadri led all scorers with 21 points on 8-13 shooting in addition to four rebounds, an assist and a blocked shot for Suffolk. Schiebel ended the conest with 17 points, three assists and a rebound and junior guard Alessandra Quadri (Sudbury, Mass.) scored eight points, grabbed 11 rebounds, came up with two steals and blocked a pair of shots.

The Sharks will be in action again on Tuesday, February 17 when they host GNAC foe Norwich University at 7:00 p.m. in Moore Gymnasium, while the Rams host Saint Joseph's College (Maine) on the same night at 5:30 p.m.