Women’s Basketball Set for Emerson Tip-Off Tournament This Weekend

BOSTON – The Suffolk women's basketball team heads across the Boston Commons this weekend for the Emerson Tip-Off Tournament. The Rams will face Wesleyan in the first round Saturday, Nov. 19 at 3 p.m., with the winner advancing to the championship the following day against the winner of the Simmons/Emerson contest.  Both losing teams will tip-off in a consolation game Sunday, Nov. 20. 

SOCIALIZE
Stay up-to-date with all the latest news and notes on Suffolk Athletics by connecting with the Rams on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Be sure to use the hashtag #RamNation for an insider's look at Suffolk's teams and student-athletes.

LAST TIME OUT 
Over the final 4:30 of action, the Suffolk women's basketball team outscored UMass Boston, 11-2, to capture a 73-70 season-opening win Tuesday night at the Beacon's Clark Athletic Center.

MORE READING: Late Run Sends Women's Basketball Past UMass Boston in Season Opener

RUNDOWN ON THE RAMS
Suffolk started the season 1-0 for the sixth consecutive year thanks to its 73-70 victory at UMass Boston Tuesday night.

The Rams saw a quartet produce double figures on night one paced by senior Kelsey Schiebel's 16. Alexandra Nagri and Georgia Bourikas put in 14 and 12, respectively, with Alexis Hackett adding a 10-point spark off the bench.

Suffolk out rebounded UMass, 42-39, thanks to eight from freshman Katelyn Rourke and seven from Bourikas.

CATCH UP ON THE CARDINALS
Wesleyan faces Suffolk in its 2016-17 season opener and is coming off a 7-15 season.

Danielle Gervacio and Maeve Vitale return as the Cardinals leaders in the backcourt. Gervacio led the team in assists a year ago, averaging 3.1 per game and chipping in 7.5 ppg. Vitale, meanwhile, was second on the team in both scoring (8.5 ppg) and assists (2.1 apg).

Wesleyan looks to fill in fronts court after graduating its leading scorer, forward Kaylie Williams. Maddie Bledsoe and Tara Berger, who finished with 7.4 and 6.4 points per game, respectively, will look to step up for the Cardinals.

Kate Mullen enters her 25th season as Wesleyan's head coach.  

THE SERIES
Suffolk and Wesleyan have faced one another twice in the Rams' history with each team owning a win. Suffolk picked up a 52-50 victory in the team's last meeting Nov. 29, 2001.

EYES ON THE GAME
 

SOMETHING 'BOUT THE SHARKS
Simmons opens its 2016-17 campaign Saturday afternoon versus Emerson and is coming off a 7-18 season.

The Sharks returns their top five leading scorers from a year ago include Jamie Zoldy (7.6 ppg) and Francesca Corsinetti (7.2 ppg). Ashley McAdams (7.6 rpg), Simmons' top rebounder from last season, is also back for the Sharks.

Simmons will be under the leadership of first-year head coach Michael Williams.

THE SERIES
The Suffolk, Simmons rivalry is one of the oldest in the Rams' history, dating back to 1984. Suffolk leads the all-time series, 21-13, and has rattled off six straight wins over the Sharks.  

EYES ON THE GAME
 

LOWDOWN ON THE LIONS
Emerson will open its 2016-17 season Thursday night at Western New England and face Simmons Saturday in its home opener.

The Lions welcome back its core offensive including last season's leading scorer Charlie Boyle (12.4 ppg) and the squad's top rebounder in Sierra Ducey (8.7 rpg), who also provided 10.2 ppg.

THE SERIES
Suffolk has met its Boston Common neighbor since the 1986 season. The Rams hold a commanding 23-9 all-time series lead over the Lions.  

EYES ON THE GAME
 

OPENING ACT
Suffolk is 18-16 all-time in season openers and 14-9 under head coach Ed Leyden. The Rams have won the first game of the season for six consecutive campaigns thanks to a 73-70 win at UMass Boston Nov. 15. 

ROAD WARRIORS
Suffolk's entire six-game November slate will be played on the road, marking the first time since 2002-03 that the Rams played the entire first month of action as the away team. The six-contest stretch away from home to open the 2016-17 campaign marks the longest season-opening road trip since 1999-00, when the blue-and-gold played seven straight contests on the road.

SUFFOLK FREE RADIO
Suffolk Athletics has teamed up with Suffolk Free Radio to bring Ram Nation live broadcast events this year including multiple home and away women's basketball contests.

The pre-game shows are set to launch 15 minutes prior to tip-off of all contests and fans can follow along at mixlr.com/suffolkfreeradio/.

WHAT'S NEXT?
Suffolk travels across the Boston Common over the weekend for the Emerson Tip-Off Tournament. The Rams will first face Wesleyan (Conn.) Saturday, Nov. 19 at 3 p.m., with the victor advancing to the finals Sunday, Nov. 20 versus the winner of the hosts Emerson and fellow GNAC member Simmons.