PROVIDENCE, RI – From the outset, the GNAC contest between the Johnson & University women's basketball team and Suffolk University was a defensive battle. For the third game in a row the Wildcats held an opponent to under 50 points as they prevailed, 50-44, on Thursday. 

Records:
Suffolk: 11-8, 3-2 GNAC
Johnson & Wales: 19-2, 7-1 GNAC

JWU Statistical Leaders:
Ashley Thompson: 13 Points, 7 Rebounds
Bobbie Whitehead: 14 Rebounds, 7 Points
Raquel Pederzani: 9 Points, 5 Steals, 3 Assists

The Lead:
Johnson & Wales forced the Rams into 29 turnover, the most for a JWU opponent this year and a season-high for Suffolk. The Wildcats turned those miscues into 22 points.  The top scoring defense in the GNAC at 53.9 points per game, JWU hasn't given up over 60 points in its last six games.

Of Note:
With the victory, Johnson & Wales tied the school record for most wins in a season. The 2014-15 edition that went to the program's first NCAA Tournament, posted a 19-10 mark.

Johnson & Wales played suffocating defense in the first quarter as it limited the Rams to just three points. That matched the season-low for a JWU opponent, set by Emmanuel in the fourth quarter of their January 28 game. The previous low was five scored by Fitchburg State in the season-opener.

Neither team could find its rhythm offensively in the opening 10 minutes as turnovers outnumbered points. Suffolk got a free throw from Alexandria Clarke at the 8:12 mark and didn't score again until 1:53 when Georgia Bourikas hit two more free throws. Johnson & Wales only managed to hit a trio of shots during the opening stanza.

Midway through the half, the Wildcats went on an 8-1 run to open its largest lead of the game, 18-6, on an Ashley Thompson (Bellingham, Mass.) jumper. JWU's lead would hover in the 7-8 point range until the middle of the fourth quarter when Raquel Pederzani (Coventry, RI) hit a three to stretch the margin to 11, 42-31. Bourikas hit a three to pull the Rams within six, 47-41, with 1:27 to play, but Bobbie Whitehead (Brooklyn, NY) hit a jumper and Kristen Habbel (Phoenixville, PA) knocked down a free throw to seal the victory.

Both teams shot 25 percent from the floor. The Wildcats made four three-pointers, compared to two for the visitors, but Suffolk nearly made more free throws (12-of-22) as JWU took (6-of-14).

Leading Johnson & Wales offensively was Thompson with 13 points and seven rebounds. Whitehead pulled in a game-high 14 rebounds to go along with seven points. Habbel and Pederzani added nine points.

Topping all scorers with 16 points was Chelsea Campellone and she added 12 boards for her ninth double-double of the year. Bourikas and Caitlyn Caramello came off the bench to score seven points each.

Up Next:
The Wildcats go on the road this weekend when they travel to Rivier for a 1 p.m. tipoff on Saturday.