BOSTON – Jenni-Rose DiCecco of the Suffolk women's basketball team has been named the GNAC Rookie of the Year, with Georgia Bourikas and Alexis Hackett join the freshmen guard on the second and third all-conference team, respectively.
The trio helped Suffolk to one of the most successful seasons in the Rams' 35th-year history highlighted by a GNAC Championship run. During the Rams' 23rd consecutive conference trip, they defeated Emmanuel for the second-time in program history and first in the league postseason after defeating Johnson & Wales in the quarterfinals to seal their third 20-win season. Suffolk finished the season with the most victories (21) since 2013-14, as it tied the program record for conference victories (12-4) and put together the longest win streak (10) since 2001-02.
DiCecco, a Falmouth, Massachusetts, native, finished the regular season with a team-best and 12th in the league 14.6 points per game – best of all freshmen. She sits first on the team and seventh in the league in assists with 3.8. The 5-foot-6 guard also earned second double-doubles on the season with 20 games in double figures in scoring, and stands second in the league in three-point field goals made (68).
A program record eight-team GNAC Corvias Rookie of the Week selection, DiCecco was a crucial ingredient to Suffolk's success this season, averaging 35.5 minutes per game, as the freshman started all 28 games for the Rams this season. DiCecco is the second Suffolk player to have been named GNAC Rookie of the Year, as Hackett took home the honor a year ago.
Bourikas, a native of Hull, Massachusetts, became the 10th Suffolk player to ever post 1,000-plus points and 500-plus rebounds in their career. This season, the senior captain averaged 13.9 points per game with 21 games in double figures, including five 20-plus point outings and a career-high 30-point night in a 69-61 win at Fitchburg State Dec. 7. She followed that with a 28-point outing in an overtime 90-87 victory at Framingham State to earn player of the week from the GNAC, NEWBA and the USBWA, becoming the first Ram to be recognized as the best player in the nation over a seven day stretch.
The 5-foot-8 guard made her opponents pay for sending her to the foul line to put together a 92.5 connection rate (99-107) at the charity stripe, which not only is the best in the league, but sits second among NCAA Division III women's basketball. Defensively, she contributed 6.5 rebounds per game, good for second on the squad. Overall, she tallied five double-doubles.
Bourikas picked up her second all-league honor in as many years and capped off her collegiate career in blue-and-with her name scattered throughout the record book. She is the most potent free throw shooter in a Ram uniform making 84.2 percent of her 272 attempts (229-272). She also ranks in the top five in three-point field goals made (146) and three-point field goals percentage (38.0; 146-384), while appearing on the all-time assists, field goals made, free throws made and points lists.
Hackett, who hails from Charlton, Massachusetts, earned a spot on the all-league third team after averaging a double-double with 11.4 ppg and 11.0 rpg. The 5-foot-11 small forward pulled down a league-high 8.6 defensive rebounds per game, while her 11.0 rpg sat third in the conference. The sophomore contributed 13 double-doubles on the year behind 18 outings with double digit boards and 17 games with double digits scoring.
Alexandra Nagri wrapped up her days in a Rams uniform representing Suffolk on the all-sportsmanship team, which was established to honor one player from each team in the conference for outstanding dedication to sportsmanship and for their portrayal of good sportsmanship, fair play and positive attitude. Along with her co-captain, Bourikas, the pair became the 18th and 19th Suffolk women's basketball players to compete in 100 career games for the Rams Feb. 1.
Since 1996, when the conference first established the awards, Suffolk has earned 30 All-GNAC honors including two rookie of the years, nine first-time, eight second-team and 12 third-team selections.
2017-18 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-GNAC
First-Team
Olivia Bolden, Albertus Magnus
Yuleka Ramirez-Tejda, Emmanuel
Raquel Pederzani, Johnson & Wales
Brittany Stone, Regis
Kelsi McNamara, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Second-Team
Morgan Church, Lasell
Kaylee Kacavas, Rivier
Shyann Josler, Norwich
Emily Benway, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Georgia Bourikas, Suffolk
Third Team
Jill Johnson, Albertus Magnus
Alisha Fox, Emmanuel
Valerie Martin, Mount Ida
Julia Champagne, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Alexis Hackett, Suffolk
Player of the Year – Olivia Bolden, Albertus Magnus
Defensive Player of the Year – Julia Champagne, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Rookie of the Year – Jenni-Rose DiCecco, Suffolk
Coach of the Year – Mike McDevitt, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Institutional Sportsmanship Award – Rivier
All-Sportsmanship Team
Kristen Cunning, Albertus Magnus
Kayla Odegaard, Anna Maria
Mary McCarthy, Emmanuel
Kristen Habbel, Johnson & Wales
Brianna Hoffman, Lasell
Patricia Liotta, Mount Ida
Vanessa Fleury, Norwich
Nikki Bitinaitis, Regis
Lizzy Meehan, Rivier
Rajeen Mayo, Saint Joseph (Conn.)
Regan McFerran, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Kirra Courchesne, Simmons
Alexandra Nagri, Suffolk