BOSTON – After matching the program record for league wins, the Suffolk women's basketball team earned the third seed in the 2018 GNAC Women's Basketball Tournament, the conference office announced. 

Suffolk has not missed a conference tournament since the inaugural season of GNAC contests in 1995-96 and makes its 23rd consecutive trip, all of which came under the guidance of Ed Leyden, this year. The Rams earned their highest seeding since sitting second in 2013 and enter the race to GNAC glory as the third seed for the fourth time and first since 2007 after matching the program record of league victories with a 12-4 record. Overall, the blue-and-gold put together the most victories since 2012-13 (23-4) with a 19-6 mark.

The blue-and-gold's first round foe, Johnson & Wales, meanwhile, heads to the tournament as the sixth seed with a 11-5 league ledger and a 15-10 overall record. 

In their sole regular season showdown, Jordan Hipwell spear headed a thrilling 70-67 Suffolk victory at JWU Jan. 25. The freshman's career-high 23 points led five Rams in double figures to overcome a nine-point deficit heading into the fourth frame to take the win back to Boston. 

Suffolk's victory Jan. 25 pushed the Rams to 17-8 all-time versus the Wildcats. That series includes two postseason matches, both of which came in the quarterfinals. JWU won the first last meeting in 2014 as the fifth-seeded Wildcats upset the fourth-seed Rams, 59-45. In the first postseason meeting between the foes, the Rams, who were seeded third, took down the sixth-seeded Wildcats, 56-43. 

In its 22 tournament appearances, Suffolk has advanced to the semis on nine occasions and competed in the championship four times. 

Suffolk begins its quest for its first GNAC title Tuesday, Feb. 20 when the Wildcats visit Regan Gymnasium for a 7 p.m. tip. 

2018 GNAC Women's Basketball Tournament

Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Feb. 20
Game 1: #8 Mount Ida at #1 Saint Joseph's (Maine) – 5:30 PM 
Game 2: #5 Albertus Magnus at #4 Regis – 7:00 PM
Game 3: #6 Johnson & Wales at #3 Suffolk – 7:00 PM
Game 4: #7 Norwich at #2 Emmanuel – 7:00 PM

Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 22
Game 5: Winner of Game 2 vs. Winner Game 1
Game 6: Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner Game 3

Championship – Saturday, Feb. 24
Game 7: Winner Game 6 vs. Winner Game 5