Women’s Basketball to Battle Emmanuel in GNAC Semifinals

THURSDAY, FEB. 27 // 7:00 PM  ANDY YOSINOFF COURT // BOSTON, MASS. LIVE STATS // VIDEO
EYES ON THE GAME SERIES RECORD // SUFFOLK TRAILS, 3-31 LAST MEETING // FEB. 1, 2020, W, 73-59 LAST SUFFOLK WIN // SAME  STREAK // W1

BOSTON – Suffolk women's basketball quest for GNAC glory continues Thursday, Feb. 25 as the fourth-seeded Rams head across town to take on the top seed Emmanuel in the semifinals. Tip-off at Andy Yosinoff Court is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. 

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2020 GNAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT

Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Feb. 25
Game 1: #1 Emmanuel defeated #8 Norwich, 65,39 – Box Score
Game 2: #4 Suffolk defeated #5 Albertus Magnus, 103-99 (2OT) – Box Score
Game 3: #3 Regis defeated #6 Colby Sawyer, 61-48 – Box Score
Game 4: #2 Saint Joseph's (Maine) defeated #7 Johnson & Wales, 59-54 – Box Score  

Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 27 
Game 5: #4 Suffolk at #1 Emmanuel – 7:00 p.m. – Live Stats | Live Video 
Game 6: #3 Regis at #2 Saint Joseph's (Maine) – 7:00 p.m. – Live Stats | Live Video  

Championship – Saturday, Feb. 29
Game 7: Winner of Game 6 vs. Winner of Game 5 

RAMS IN GNAC TOURNAMENT
Suffolk, who has never missed a league tournament since the GNAC's inaugural season in 1995-96, is in the midst of its 25th consecutive trip.  

The Rams are the field's fourth seed for the second straight season and seventh time overall. The blue-and-gold has advanced to the semifinal as the fourth seed five times, including this season, and looks for its first berth into the championship contest as the fourth seed. Overall, Suffolk is 5-6 in the league's tournament as the fourth seed. 

In 24 appearances, Suffolk has advanced to the semis 12 times and has competed in the championships on five occasions with the last coming in 2017-18. 

LAST TIME OUT
Every player showed sparks of greatness to contribute to an edge-of-your-seat victory as the fourth-seeded Suffolk women's basketball team bested fifth seeded Albertus Magnus, 103-95, in double overtime in the GNAC Quarterfinals Tuesday night at the Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court. 

MORE READING: Women's Basketball Downs Albertus Magnus in GNAC Quarterfinals, 103-95, in Double OT Thriller

RAMS REVIEW
Suffolk secured its spot in its third consecutive conference semifinal after eliminating Albertus Magnus in a 103-95 double overtime victory. That thrilling triumph improved the Rams to 18-8 on the year. 

A trio anchors Suffolk's 66.5 ppg unit. Jenni-Rose DiCecco powers the offensive output with a 15.6 ppg, 5.0 apg performance. Gabriella DeComo and Alexis Hackett compliments here with 10.6 ppg each.  

Defensively, Hackett holds down the bulk of the boards load with 9.3 rpg to propel the Rams' 41.0 rpg effort. Emily Welling adds 5.0 rgp and DiCecco chips in 4.6 rpg. 

SAINTS SAYINGS
Emmanuel rides a six-game win streak into Thursday's tangle including a 65-39 quarterfinals victory over Norwich. The Saints, who sit at 19-7 on the season, earned the top seed in the tournament's field with a 10-2 league ledger.  

Offensively Emmanuel is the one of the most powerful squad in the conference's ranks with the second-best scoring averaging of 71.5 ppg and the top-ranked shooting percentage with a 41.2 connection rate. Yuleksa Ramirez Tejeda anchors the scoring for the Saints with a. 19.0 ppg effort. Kayla Weaver joins her classmate in double figures with 10.2 ppg. 

Ramirez Tejeda is the main ingredient on the glass as well with 11.8 rpg to complete the double-double average. She boosts Emmanuel's 46.2 rpg effort with Loredana D'Agostino supplying 5.5 rpg to the cause. 

WE MEET AGAIN
Four different players put up double figures to lead Suffolk women's basketball to a 73-59 victory over Emmanuel Feb. 1 at Andy Yosinoff Court.  

MORE READING: Women's Basketball Stuns Emmanuel, 73-59

SUFFOLK VS. EMMANUEL IN GNAC TOURNEY

• Suffolk and Emmanuel will meet in the GNAC Tournament for the eighth time, first since 2018. 
• The Rams downed the Saints in the last post-season battle, a 73-68 semifinal win in 2018. That win was the first-ever Suffolk tournament victory against Emmanuel in program history. 
• The foes will face one another in the semifinals for the fourth time. 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk bested Emmanuel for just the third time in program history Feb. 1 with a 73-59 victory at Andy Yosinoff Court. 
• In one of the oldest rivalries for the Rams, Suffolk trails the series with Emmanuel, 3-31.
• Suffolk has owned the series as of late, winning two of the last three battles, including two on the Saints home hardwood. 
• The blue-and-gold goes for back-to-back victories over Emmanuel for the first time in program history. 
• The Rams' 14-point triumph over the Saints Feb. 1 is the largest margin of victory for the blue-and-gold in the all-time series. 

EYES ON THE GAME
 

WHAT'S NEXT?
The winner of Thursday's tilt clicks their ticket to the 2020 GNAC Championships contest Saturday, Feb. 29 and will play the victor of the semifinal between Saint Joseph's (Maine) and Regis.