Women’s Basketball Set for Season Opening Weekend with Nichols

GAME ONE // FRIDAY, FEB. 26 // 6:00 PM SMITH COURT // BOSTON, MASS. LIVE STATS // VIDEO // PROGRAM GAME 2 // SATURDAY, FEB. 27 // 1:00 PM NICHOLS ATHLETIC CENTER // DUDLEY, MASS. LIVE STATS // VIDEO
EYES ON THE GAME SERIES RECORD // SUFFOLK TRAILS, 8-11 LAST MEETING // DECEMBER 6, 2012, W, 68-38 LAST SUFFOLK WIN // SAME CURRENT SUFFOLK STREAK // W4

BOSTON – Itching to set the wheels of its season in motion, the Suffolk women's basketball team will eagerly make its 2020-21 this weekend, when the Rams take on Nichols in a home-and-home series. Action tips off at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court Friday, Feb. 26 at 6:00 p.m., and wraps up in Dudley, Massachusetts, the next day, Saturday, Feb. 27 at 1:00 p.m.

SPECTATOR SECTION
With a strict no spectator policy set for the 2020-21 athletic season, here's how fans can follow Suffolk game-day action.

SOCIAL SAYINGS
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 Twitter. Fans are encouraged to use the hashtag #RamNation a behind-the-scene look at Suffolk Athletics.

For an insider look at Suffolk women's basketball, Ram Nation can subscribe to @suffolkWbb on Instagram and Twitter.

RAMS REWIND
Suffolk attempted to put an exclamation point on its 2019-20 season, its 25th and last in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC). The Rams came up short, just one point exactly (58-57), in the semifinals to cross city rival, Emmanuel, with the chance for GNAC glory out of reach.

There were multiple highlights in the 37th edition of Suffolk women's basketball, though including a pair of 1,000-point scorers in now senior Jenni-Rose DiCecco and Alexis Hackett '20, who became the all-time leader in blocks and rebounds.

RAMS RETURNERS
Jenni-Rose DiCecco is the glue to both ends of the hardwood. The three-time all-league floor general has paced the Rams' offensive output over the last two years including a 15.5 point per game output a year ago, which went along with 5.0 assists per game. Defensively, she contributed 4.6 rebounds and a team-high 3.2 steals per game in 36.6 minutes per outing. 

Complimenting DiCecco is her classmate Gabriella DeComo and junior Allie Lopes. DeComo had a career-high season in 2019-20 with a stat line of 10.5 ppg and 3.4 rpg, while Lopes favored the long ball, putting away 42 triples to contribute 8.0 ppg.

RAMS ROOKIES
A handful of new faces will put on the blue-and-gold jersey for the first time as Suffolk women's basketball has added a trio of newcomers for the 2020-21 campaign. 

Amanda DeAngelis will make her collegiate debut at Suffolk as the lone true freshmen in the threesome, while sophomore Sydney Noyes and Sydney Richard brought their talents to Beacon Hill from Colby Sawyer and the University of New Haven, respectively. 

MORE READING: Rams Rookies: Women's Basketball 2020-21

GEOGRAPHY 101
The bulk of Suffolk's 12-man roster hails from New England with seven Massachusetts locals. Two student-athletes have traveled down from the Granite State with one Ram hailing from Connecticut, New York and Rhode Island.

CLASS CATEGORIES
Suffolk's dozen of players is a well-balanced mixture with five juniors, a trio of sophomores and seniors, respectively, and one true freshmen.

POSITIONS PIECES
Position wise, the Rams have three forwards, five guards and four swing players.

RAMS RINGLEADERS
Suffolk women's basketball's 38th season will be led by senior tri-captains Gabriella DeComo, Jenni-Rose DiCecco and Rachel LaSaracina. 

DiCecco is in her second season at the post, after sharing the responsibilities with Alexis Hackett '20 a year ago, while DeComo and LaSaracina are in their first years in the role. 

MORE READING: Senior Trio Tabbed Women's Basketball Captains

ON THE BENCH
Ed Leyden returns to lead Suffolk for his 27th season. During his time on the court, Leyden has led the Rams to 25 straight conference post-season tournaments and has coached 13 of the Rams' 16 1,000-point scorers.­­ 

Assisting the legendary head coach are assistant coaches Carolyn Rea, Alessandra Quadri and graduate assistants Kahtryn Mathieu and Meagan Foley.

OPENING ACT

• Suffolk is 19-18 all-time in season openers and 15-11 under head coach Ed Leyden.
• The Rams returned to the win column on day one of the season last year behind a 59-50 win over Keene State.
• Suffolk looks to win back-to-back season openers for the first time since stringing six opening-day victories together from 2011-16.
• Suffolk will play on its home hardwood, Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court, for the third straight season debut and fourth time overall. The blue-and-gold is 1-2 when flipping the page on the calendar at the friendly confines of the Ridgeway Building.
• The Rams and Nichols will tangle in Suffolk's season opener for the first time.

BISON BREAKDOWN
Nichols, who is coming off a 5-20 campaign, is bolstered by five returners complimented by four newcomers. 

Isabella Nerney is the most noteworthy Bison back. The senior guard was second on the squad in scoring last season with 12.0 ppg to go along with 4.1 rpg on the defensive end. Shannon St. Lawrence, meanwhile, led Nichols' 39.4 rpg team effort on the glass with 6.4 caroms per outing of her own.

INSIDE THE SERIES

• The Suffolk, Nichols series date back to 1979, however, the Rams and Bison will renew a rivalry that has been on a hiatus since the 2012-13 campaign.
• Suffolk is 8-11 all-time versus Nichols.
• The Rams ride a four-game win streak against the Bison into Friday night. That stretch was capped off by the foe's last meeting, a 68-38 blue-and-gold victory in Boston December 6, 2012.
• Home court favors Suffolk in the series. In Boston, the Rams are 6-5 against the Bison.
• Suffolk is unbeaten against Nichols in the Ed Leyden era.

EYES ON THE GAME

SUFFOLK SOUNDS
During the longer than usual off-season, head coach Ed Leyden represented women's basketball on Suffolk Sounds, the official podcast of Suffolk Athletics.

MASK UP FOR SUFFOLK CARES
Suffolk University is asking members of Ram Nation to come together to help raise funds for students most in need by purchasing a reusable Suffolk branded face mask for $10. Net proceeds will support the Suffolk CARES program.  

The 3-ply face mask cover comes in four different designs – University, Suffolk Law, Rams, Logo Repeating. The non-medical grade masks are heavyweight, 100 percent polyester, washable and reusable. Masks can be purchased here.