GNAC Semis Sends Women’s Basketball to SJC Thursday

BOSTON – Suffolk women's basketball's quest for the 2016 GNAC Championship continues Thursday night as the fourth-seeded Rams head to Standish, Maine for a semi final match-up with the field's top-seed and regular-season champion Saint Joseph's College. 

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THE FIELD
Quarterfinals - Tuesday, Feb. 23
GAME 1: #8 Rivier (62 at #1 Saint Joseph's Maine (72)
GAME 2: #5 Norwich (51) at #4 Suffolk (55)
GAME 3: #6 Albertus Magnus (63) at #3 Emmanuel (&3)
GAME 4: #7 Lasell (57) at #2 Johnson & Wales (76)

Semifinals - Thursday, Feb. 25
GAME 5: #4 Suffolk at #1 Saint Joseph's Maine - 7 p.m.
GAME 6:  #3 Emmanuel at #2 Johnson & Wales - 5:30 p.m.

Finals - Saturday, Feb. 27
GAME 7: Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner

LAST TIME OUT
Sophomore Alexandra Nagri scored a season-high 19 points to lead the Suffolk women's basketball team to a 55-51 victory over the Norwich Cadets in the quarterfinal round of the 2016 GNAC Tournament. 

Nagri scored 12 of her game's 19 points in the second half as she finished the contest with a 4-for-8 effort from three point land to lead the Rams' attack. 

MORE READING: Nagri Leads Women's Basketball to 55-51 Victory Over Norwich

RUN DOWN ON THE RAMS

•  Suffolk's quarterfinal round triumph over Norwich (55-51) extended the Rams' win streak to six straight. Suffolk, who is 17-9 overall, has outscored its opponents 432-382 in the last six games and averages 62.8 ppg in that stretch. 
• This season the Rams average 65.8 ppg, the fifth highest offense in the league. Suffolk is shooting 36.7 percent from the floor, 31.3 beyond-the-arc and 66.1 percent at the line. The Rams rely upon their league-leading 47.8 rpg to remain close in contests. 
• Chelsea Campellone has been Suffolk's offensive and defensive leader this season as the senior averages a double-double effort. Her 15.1 ppg ranks eighth among the GNAC with her 10.3 rpg good for fourth in the league. 
• Georgia Bourikas adds 10.5 ppg and 4.6 rpg off the bench.

MUST KNOW 'BOUT THE MONKS

• Saint Joseph's defeated Rivier, 72-62, in the quarterfinals to advance to Thursday's contest. 
• The Monks captured the GNAC regular-season title thanks to the third-best offense (69.3 ppg), third highest shooting percentage (39.0), second-best connection rate from three-point range (31.9) and league's leading percentage at the line (70.0). 
• Moragan Cahill (15.2) and Kelsi McNamara (13.8) are the offensive leaders for the Monks with Cahill leading SJC on the glass as well with 8.3 rpg. 

WE MEET AGAIN
Taking on its second conference opponent in as many days, the Suffolk women's basketball was bested at Saint Joseph's College, 68-50, January 18. 

The Rams used its backcourt for its top offense as Alexandra Nagri led the way with 14 points and Kelsey Schiebel and Georgia Bourikas added nine and seven, respectively. 

MORE READING: Women's Basketball Bested at Saint Joseph's, 68-50

SUFFOLK IN THE GNAC TOURNAMENT
In their 21st straight GNAC Tournament appearance, the Rams have advanced to their 13th semifinal. In Suffolk's 12 previous semifinal contests, the Rams have come out victorious four times. Overall, Suffolk is 17-20 in GNAC post-season play (13-8 quarterfinals, 4-8 semifinals, 0-4 finals). 

SUFFOLK VS. SJC IN THE GNAC TOURNAMENT
Suffolk will meet SJC in the GNAC Tournament for the third time with the two previous meetings both coming in the semifinals in Boston. This will be the first time the Rams and Monks compete in the post-season in Maine. 

WHAT'S NEXT?
The winner of Tuesday's contest will advance to the championship game set for Saturday, Feb. 27 and play the victor of second-seeded Johnson & Wales and third-seeded Emmanuel.