Women’s Basketball’s 39th Season Starts Tuesday Against Emerson

SUFFOLK vs. EMERSON - PROGRAM
Date Time Venue Video Stats Series Last Meeting   Last Suffolk Win Streak	Tuesday, Nov. 9 7:00 PM Smith Court Boston, Mass. Suffolk Stretch GoSuffolkRams.com Suffolk Leads, 26-6 Nov. 12, 2019, L, 59-53 Nov. 12, 2018, 68-62 L1

BOSTON – Suffolk women's basketball's 2021-22 season gets going Tuesday, Nov. 9 with a Beantown battle with Emerson. Tip-off of the Rams' 39th season is set for 7 p.m. at Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court.

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.

SUFFOLK ATHLETICS 2021-22 FAN POLICY
Suffolk University Athletics, following guidance from the University's health and safety protocols, Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC), Centers for Disease Control and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, plans to allow fans to attend home athletic contests during the 2021-22 academic and athletic year.

Fans, whether vaccinated or unvaccinated, can attend games. They must be masked the entire time they are on campus, pursuant to institutional policy, and complete a health screening form at the security desk of each building upon arrival. This policy applies to home contests played on campus at the Ridgeway Building's Larry E. and Michael S. Smith Court, as well as the Emmons Horrigan O'Neil Memorial Rink and the Louis E. Porrazzo Memorial Skating Rink.

For outdoor outings, specifically at East Boston Memorial Park, fans are asked to respect COVID safety protocols. At this time, masks will not be mandated for fans no matter vaccinated status at outdoor venues.

MORE READING: Suffolk Athletics Announces Fan Policy for 2021-22

RAMS RETURNERS
Jenni-Rose DiCecco and Gabriella DeComo both opted in for a fifth year to lead the Rams' roster yet again. The graduate students provided a one-two punch offensively last year with 11.9 ppg and 10.9 ppg, respectively. DiCecco set-up Suffolk's scoring as well with 5.6 apg to go along with 7.4 rpg.

Complementing the co-captains are seniors Natalie Fraioli (10.4 ppg), Allie Lopes (9.0 ppg) and Emily Welling (9.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg).

Juniors Lily Patneaude and Syndey Noyes and sophomore Amanda DeAngelis are back in the fold as well.

RAMS ROOKIES
Three new players will give Suffolk women's basketball a boost in 2021-22 as head coach Ed Leyden brought in a trio of fresh faces to add to the mix.

A pair of true freshmen in Aisling Crowley and Maddie Stewart will make their collegiate debuts at Suffolk, while Marissa Gattuso has brought her talents to Beacon Hill as a graduate student after beginning her career at Merrimack.

MORE READING: Trio Added to Women's Basketball Roster for 2021-22

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

CLASS CATEGORIES
Suffolk's dozen of players is a well-balanced mixture with four seniors, three graduate students, a pair of juniors and freshman, respectively and one sophomore.

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

RAMS RINGLEADERS
A pair of graduate students in Gabriella DeComo and Jenni-Rose DiCecco will guide Suffolk women's basketball in its 39th season as the fifth-year Rams are set to share the captain role.

MORE READING: DiCecco, DeComo Back as Women's Basketball Captains in 2021-22

COACH'S COURT
Ed Leyden returns to lead Suffolk for his 28th 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 Kathryn Mathieu and graduate assistant Meagan Foley.

WATCH AND SEE

PRESEASON PREDICTIONS
The Suffolk women's basketball team has been projected to finish fourth in the 10-team Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) per the league's Preseason Coaches' Poll assembled by the conference's head coaches.

MORE READING: Women's Basketball Selected Fourth in CCC Preseason Coaches' Poll

OPENING ACT

• Suffolk is 20-18 all-time in season openers and 16-11 under head coach Ed Leyden.
• Last season the Rams defeated Nichols, 101-46, to win back-to-back season debuts 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 fourth straight season debut and fifth time overall. The blue-and-gold is 2-2 when flipping the page on the calendar at the friendly confines of the Ridgeway Building.

LIONS LOOK
Emerson lifted the lid on its 2021-22 campaign with an 81-58 win at Gordon Saturday to head across the Boston Commons 1-0. 

Devin Hill provided a punch off the bench with a game-high 20 points to power the Lions offense. She was lethal from the floor, shooting 8-for-11 and perfect at the free-throw line, 4-for-4. She added four steals. Ava Salti was also reserve contributor with 11 points, three caroms and two helpers. Ella Bushee was the lone starter in double figures with 11 points to go along with five dimes, four takeaways and three boards.  

INSIDE THE SERIES

• The Suffolk Emerson series dates back to 1986-87.
• The Rams hold a 26-6 all-time series lead over the Lions despite dropping the last battle, 59-53, Nov. 12. 2019.
• The blue-and-gold has put together a 14-3 record when hosting the Lions.
• The teams have needed overtime once to determine a winner back in 1996-97. The Rams won the OT outing, 39-36.
• Suffolk boasts an 18-5 record versus Emerson under Ed Leyden's guidance.

EYES ON THE GAME
 

WHAT'S TO COME?
Suffolk hits the road for the first time this year when it visits Bridgewater State Saturday, Nov. 13 for a 12 p.m. matchup.