Women’s Basketball Season's 2025-26 Debut Features Rivier Friday

SUFFOLK vs. RIVIER
Date Time Venue Video Stats Notes Series Last Meeting Last Suffolk Win Streak	Friday, Nov. 7 7:00 PM Smith Court Boston, Mass. CNE Network GoSuffolkRams.com GoSuffolkRams.com 26-5 Nov. 23, 2024, W, 77-73 Same Won 7

BOSTON – Suffolk women's basketball is ready for its 2025-26 tip-off, a Friday, Nov. 7 showdown with Rivier at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court. 

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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.

RAPID REWIND
Suffolk women's basketball earned another trip to the Conference of New England (CNE) postseason last season, finishing 8-10 in league play and 13-13 overall. The Rams fell in the first round of the CNE Tournament to Roger Williams, 64-59.

Suffolk has never missed a league tournament since 1995-96 and will aim for the program's 30th consecutive appearance this season. Returning starters Jordan Moreau (9.5 ppg, 3.2 apg, 4.2 rpg) and Allison Bono (7.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg) provide experience, while Olivia Verdile, Ava Thurman, Tatiana Tune and Khaya Skene are expected to step into larger roles this season.

RAMS ROOKIES
Suffolk women's basketball will see some new faces in 2025-26 as head coach Ed Leyden adds three newcomers to the roster.

The incoming class features first year's Ariana Ingram, Mia Corazzini, and Ella Nixon, who will look to make their mark in their debut seasons with the Rams.

MORE READING: Trio Added to Women's Basketball in 2025-26

GEOGRAPHY 101
The blue-and-gold's 12-player roster features talent from five different states spread throughout the Northeast and beyond.

New York headlines the group with four Rams from the Empire State, followed by two from Massachusetts and one that calls Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Texas home, respectively.

CLASS CATEGORIES
Suffolk's roster is defined by its youth, featuring no seniors. With six juniors, three freshmen, and two sophomores, the Rams boast a lineup full of developing talent.

POSITION PLAUDITS
When broken down by position, Suffolk's roster is evenly split with six forward, five guards and one swing player. 

RAMS RINGLEADERS
Suffolk women's basketball head coach Ed Leyden has announced that Ava Thurman and Olivia Verdile will serve as captains for the 2025-26 season.

The pair steps into leadership for the first time in their careers and is the first time a duo shared the leadership role since 2023-24 when Madi Mahoney '24 and Maddie Stewart '25 were co-captains.

Thurman and Verdile are the youngest known co-captains in the last decade as the twosome earned the title as juniors.

MORE READING: Junior Pair to Captain Women's Basketball in 2025-26 

COACH'S CORNER
Ed Leyden enters his 32nd season leading the Suffolk women's basketball program. A fixture on the sidelines for more than three decades, Leyden has guided the Rams with consistency and success throughout his tenure. The New England Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and five-time Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Coach of the Year continues to steer Suffolk into a new era of competition in the CNE. 

Coach Leyden will be joined on the sidelines by first-year assistant coaches Ashley Brown and Bennie Wilkins.

TIP-OFF

• The Rams are 23-19 in season debuts.
• Suffolk bested New England College, 68-48 in last year's opener.
• Suffolk is 4-3 in season openers played inside the Ridgeway Building.
• Since Ed Leyden took the helm, the blue-and-gold has gone 19-12 in the first game of the year.
• Suffolk is 10-9 on the road in the first outing of the year and 9-7 in neutral site games.
• The last season opener win at home was against crosstown rival Emerson on November 8, 2023, a 67-51 victory. 

RAIDERES REVIEW

• Rivier compiled a 15-11 record last season.
• The Raiders bring back a pair of usual contributors from last year's team in Gianna Donato (9.2 ppg, 2.5 rpg) and Sydney Perry (6.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg). 
• There are seven newcomers on Rivier's 13-player squad including four true freshman, and grad student Juju Nealy and juniors Erika Fantauzzi and Haley Phillips. 

INSIDE THE SERIES

• Suffolk has defeated Rivier in seven straight meetings to lead the all-time series 26-5. 
• The usual rivals will meet for the second straight season. 
• The Rams defeated the Raiders, 77-73, in the last meeting, Nov. 23, 2024.
• On the road, the blue-and-gold is 14-3 versus the Raiders. 
• At home, Suffolk is 12-2 against Rivier.  

MORE INFO: Suffolk vs. Rivier – All-Time Series 
 

SUFFOLK'S SCHEDULE
Suffolk continues its home stay Sunday, Nov. 9 when Baruch stops by the basement of the Ridgeway Building for a 1:00 p.m. tip-off.