Starting Five: Women’s Basketball’s 37th Season

BOSTON – The 37th edition of Suffolk women's basketball is just days away with tip-off set for Friday, Nov. 8 at the Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court against Keene State. Prior to the 6:30 p.m. clash, GoSuffolkRams.com has given Ram Nation a quick glimpse at five hot topics to watch out for in 2019-20. 

1. SCORING SENSATIONS
   
   A pair of Rams are on the cusps of joining the 1K club in scoring in Jenni-Rose DiCecco and Alexis Hackett. 
   
   The former is 132 shy of the grand mark. If the floor general were to hit it this season, she would be the first junior to do so since Jennifer Ruys '14, who is second all-time in Suffolk scoring with 1,486 career points. Hackett, meanwhile, is 227 away from her 1,000th. 
   
   Georgia Bourikas was the last Ram to eclipse the 1,000-point marker, accomplishing the feat in her fifth year in 2017-18. 
   
   The co-captains could be the first Suffolk pair to hit the feat in the same season since Jacqueline Vienneau and Ruys did so in 2013 as a senior and junior, respectively.  
   
   DiCecco returns to the hardwood after a 17.0 ppg sophomore season, while Hackett helped out offensive a year ago with 11.4 ppg. 
   
   
2. REBOUNDING RECORD
   
   Alexis Hackett has a chance to reach the grand milestone in rebounds as well, as the 5-foot-11 forward is 309 shy of the 1,000-carom mark. If the Charlton, Massachusetts, native is to pull down 1,000 rebounds, she would be the first to do so, and rewrite the 27-year all-time rebound record of 879, which belongs to Johanna McGourty, who wore the blue-and-gold from 1990-93. Hackett is 188 away from McGourty's all-time mark
   
   Hackett has led Suffolk on the boards in the past two years including a 11.4 rebound per game mark last season. 
   
   
3. GNAC EXIT
   
   Suffolk was one of the original members of the Great Northeast Athletic Conference in 1996, but 2019-20 will be the Rams' final go in the GNAC as the department makes the shift to the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) in 2020-21. 
   
   The Rams, who have been staples in the league's postseason tournament in each of the 24 years it was a member, looks to make its farewell known by its league counterparts by lifting the championship crown for the first time in program history.  
   
   Suffolk has reached the title tilt five times, with the most recent coming in 2017-18. 
4. OFFENSIVE OUTPUT
   
   Nearly 80 percent of Suffolk's 66.3 points per game offense is back in blue-and-gold including its top two in Jenni-Rose DiCecco (17.0 ppg) and Alexis Hackett (11.5). Overall, four of the top five leading scorers from last season's bunch return to the hardwood for the Rams. 
   
   
5. HOW TO FOLLOW SUFFOLK WOMEN'S BASKETBALL IN 2019-20
   
   Family, fans and friends of Suffolk women's basketball can follow all of the action via the Athletic Department's website, GoSuffolkRams.com. Every game will be previewed and recapped with in-game live stats and video offered for every home event. 
   
   Members of Ram Nation are also encouraged to stay up-to-date on the Rams' official social media sites, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter and use the official hashtag #RamNation for an insider's look at Suffolk's teams and student-athletes. 
   
   For a more in-depth, behind-the-scenes glimpse at Suffolk women's basketball, fans can follow the Rams on Instagram and Twitter at @SuffolkWBB.