Women’s Basketball Continues CCC Crown Chase in Semis at WNE Thursday

SUFFOLK vs. WESTERN NEW ENGLAND
Date Time Venue Video Stats Series Last Meeting   Last Suffolk Win Streak	Thursday, Feb. 22 5:30 PM Alumni Healthful Living Center Springfield, Mass. CCC Sports Network WNEGoldenBears.com 9-9 Jan. 31, 2024, W, 66-53 Same W1

BOSTON – Suffolk women's basketball's quest for a Commonwealth Coast Conference Championship continues Thursday, Feb. 22 as the fourth-seeded Rams travel to Springfield, Massachusetts to take on top seed Western New England in the semifinals. Tip-off is set for 5:30 p.m.

SOCIAL SAYINGS
Ram Nation has a chance to keep up with all the latest news and notes on Suffolk Athletics, its student-athletes and teams by following the Rams on Facebook, Instagram and X. Fans are encouraged to use the hashtag #RamNation a behind-the-scene look at Suffolk Athletics.

2024 CCC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Tuesday, Feb. 20 – First Round
Game 1: #4 Suffolk defeated #5 Endicott, 84-64 – Box Score
Game 2: #3 Roger Williams defeated #6 Nichols, 85-53 – Box Score
Game 3: #2 University of New England defeated #7 Gordon, 78-64 – Box Score 

Thursday, Feb. 22 – Semifinals
Game 4: #4 Suffolk at #1 Western New England – 5:30 p.m. – Live Stats | Live Video
Game 5: #3 Roger Williams at #2 University of New England – 7:00 p.m. – Live Stats | Live Video 

Saturday, Feb. 24 – Championship
Game 6: Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 5 

MORE INFO: 2024 CCC Women's Basketball Tournament Central

RAMS IN THE POSTSEASON

• Suffolk has never missed a league tournament since 1995-96 and is in the middle of its 28th consecutive trip, third straight CCC postseason. 
• The Rams won their first-ever CCC Tournament tilt behind its 84-64 First Round win over Endicott Tuesday, Feb. 20. 
• The Rams advanced to the CCC semifinals for the first time. 
• The blue-and-gold moved onto the semifinal for the 13th time, first since 2019-20. 
• Suffolk has advanced to the conference championship contest five times with the last coming in 2017-18. 
• The Rams are in the hunt for their ever-ever league championship. 
• The Rams enter the postseason as the fourth seed for the first time since 2002, second time in the CCC tournament and ninth-time overall. 
• Suffolk is 6-8 in a league tournament as the fourth seed. 
• The Rams have never reached a conference championship as the fourth seed. 
• In the CCC tourney, the Rams are 1-1 as the fourth seed. 
• Suffolk hosted its second-ever CCC postseason game, first since 2022. 
• As the home team, Suffolk is 1-1 in the CCC postseason. 
• On the road in the CCC tournament, the Rams are 0-1. 
• The Rams will battle on the road in the CCC tournament for the first time since the 2023 CCC Quarterfinals at UNE, which Suffolk lost, 63-53. 
• Suffolk's offense poured in a CCC postseason record 84 points in its CCC First Round win over fifth seed Endicott Tuesday, Feb. 20. 
• Individually, Lauren Romito is now Suffolk's CCC postseason single-game record holder in points (25), rebounds (15) and field goals made (11) after her performance in the First Round against the Gulls. 
• Romito became the second-ever Ram to have a double-double in the CCC postseason, first since Jenni-Rose DiCecco (13 points, 10 assists) in the 2022 Quarterfinals versus Gordon. 

LAST TIME OUT
Suffolk women's basketball broke open a one-point game behind a 19-3 third quarter run and the fourth-seeded Rams never looked back to take down fifth seed Endicott, 84-64, in the CCC First Round Tuesday night at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court.  

MORE READING: Women's Basketball Handles Endicott in CCC First Round, 84-64

RAMS RUNDOWN
Suffolk (20-6) reached the 20-win mark for the fourth time, first since 2017-18, thanks to its 84-64 CCC First Round win over Endicott.  

Amanda DeAngelis and Lauren Romito have been offensive and defensive forces for the blue-and-gold this year. DeAngelis averages a double-double with 17.8 points and 12.0 rebounds per game. Romito is second in both categories with 13.8 points and 9.5 boards per game. She adds a team-best 4.0 blocks per game as well. Jordan Moreau has stepped up offensively with 10.1 ppg and Colby Guinta adds 9.5 ppt to the Rams' 71.7 ppg effort. 

GET TO KNOW THE GOLDEN BEARS
Western New England wrapped up the regular-season 20-5 overall and 13-3 versus CCC counterparts to earn the top seed in the postseason. 

The Golden Bears' offense is well-balanced with Shaina Cooney's 12.0 ppg leading the way. She is the only every day player producing double figures. Tara Laugeni is on the cusp with 9.6 ppg. 

Cooney is the top threat on the boards as well with 7.2 rpg. Lilly Hedge adds 4.8 rpg.  

WE MEET AGAIN
Suffolk and Western New England split the two-game regular-season meetings. The Golden Bears earned the win in Springfield, Massachusetts, Jan. 9, 66-53, before the Rams bested WNE in Boston, Jan. 31, 67-60. 

MORE READING: Fourth Quarter Sends Women's Basketball by WNE, 66-53 | Women's Basketball Slips at WNE, 67-60 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk and Western New England will meet for the 19th time Thursday in a series dating back to 1995-96. 
• Suffolk its 9-9 all-time against the Golden Bears. 
• Suffolk looks to couple back-to-back wins together over WNE for the first time since running five wins in a row together to start the series in 1999-2000 through Jan. 31, 2004. 
• All 18 meetings have come under Ed Leyden's leadership. 
• On the road, Suffolk is 4-5 against the Golden Bears. 
• At home, Suffolk is 5-4 versus WNE. 
• Suffolk and Western New England will meet in the CCC postseason for the first time. 
• The Rams and the Golden Bears will battle in a conference postseason for the second time, first since the 2006 GNAC Quarterfinals, which WNE won, 52-47. 

EYES ON THE GAME

WHAT'S NEXT?
The winner of Thursday's semifinal will take on the victor of the semifinal between second seed University of New England and third seed Roger Williams Saturday, Feb. 24 in the CCC Championship.