Women’s Basketball Pair Picks Up All-GNAC Accolades

WINTRHOP, Mass. – Following its final season competing in the GNAC, Suffolk women's basketball's Jenni-Rose DiCecco and Alexis Hackett were recognized for their efforts on the hardwood with all-conference accolades. DiCecco earned a spot on the first team, while Hackett picked up a third-team nod. 

DiCecco and Hackett were crucial ingredient in every outing for Suffolk and were key contributors in the postseason push. 

In its 25th and last year in the GNAC, the pair helped Suffolk sealed its spot in the post-season tournament for the 25th consecutive season with an 8-3 league ledger, good for the fourth seed. The Rams made history in the playoffs with a thrilling, double overtime quarterfinals victory over fifth seed Albertus Magnus to advance to the semifinals for the third straight season and 12th time overall. That win over the Falcons was the first time in the blue-and-gold history that it needed extra time in the tournament to decide a winner. In another down-to-the-wire contest, Suffolk fell on the wrong side of the 58-57 semifinal showdown at top-seeded Emmanuel to end its season 18-9 overall. 

DiCecco has been a staple on the hardwood since putting on a Suffolk jersey three seasons ago and her junior campaign was no different. In 36.6 minutes per game, the Falmouth, Massachusetts, native supplied a team-best 15.6 points per game, which ranked seventh amongst her conference counterparts. The floor general set-up the Rams' 66.2 points per outing offense with 5.0 dimes per outing, which was good for third in the league ranks. She played in the passing lanes and it proved with her conference-best 86 steals, good for 3.2 per contest. The 5-foot-6 guard also aided on the boards with 4.6 rebounds per outing. Her junior campaign featured her 1,000 point, which came at Dec. 4, 2019 at Fitchburg State. She picked up her second straight first-team recognition. The back-to-back first-team picks are a first for a Ram since Jennifer Ruys'14 did so in 2012-13 and 2013-14, respectively.   

Hackett closed out her career as a Ram in record-setting fashion. Not only did she join the Rams 1,000-point club, achieving her grand marker in a career-high 27-point performance on Senior Day, a 69-42 triumph over Norwich, Feb. 15, but she graduated as the program's all-time leader in rebounds and blocks with 947 and 163, respectively. She garnered her third all-league accolade, second third-team nod, after averaging a near double-double with 10.7 points and 9.5 caroms per contest. Throughout her career she was a force both offensively and defensively and it proved with 33 career double-doubles, nine of which came this year.  Her three all-conference recognitions are the most for a student-athlete since Katie North was honored in each of her four seasons from 1997-2000. 

Junior Jordan Hipwell represented the Rams on the all-sportsmanship team, which was estalibhsed to honor one player from each team in the conference for outstanding dedication to the sportsmanship and for their portrayal of good sportsmanship, fair play and positive attitude. 

Since 1996, when the conference first established awards, Suffolk has earned 34 All-GNAC honors including two rookie of the years, which were Hackett (2016) and DiCecco (2017), 11 first-team, nine second-team and 13 third-team selections. 

2019-20 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-GNAC

First-Team
Shyla Osmond, Albertus Magnus
Rah-Rah Thompson, Albertus Magnus
Amber Wilson, Anna Maria
Yuleska Ramriez-Tejeda, Emmanuel
Jenni-Rose DiCecco, Suffolk 

Second-Team
Lexie Hamilton, Colby Sawyer
Tianna Sugers, Colby Sawyer
Amanda Ortiz, Lasell
Pam Gonzalez, Regis
Cassandra Stapelfeld, Saint Joseph's (Maine) 

Third-Team
Kayla Weaver, Emmanuel
Tiondra Hands, Johnson & Wales
Arie Searcy, Regis
Alyson Fillion, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Alexis Hackett, Suffolk 

Player of the Year – Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda, Emmanuel
Defensive Player of the Year – Kayla Weaver, Emmanuel
Rookie of the Year – Pam Gonzalez, Regis
Coach of the Year – Angela Santa Fe, Regis
Institutional Sportsmanship Award – Saint Joseph (Conn.) 

All-Sportsmanship Team
Beatriz Honorio, Albertus Magnus
Dawnisha Franklin, Anna Maria
Joslin Wainwright, Colby Sawyer
Jamad Fiin, Emmanuel
Marissa Cottrell, Johnson & Wales
Dana Ross, Lasell
KristieAnn DeSilvio, Norwich
Nikki Bitinaitis, Regis
Anna Chevarella, Saint Joseph (Conn.)
Lexi L'Heureux-Carland, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Jordan Hipwell, Suffolk