BOSTON – Jenni-Rose DiCecco and Alexis Hackett of the Suffolk women's basketball team picked up recognition for their efforts on the hardwood by the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) as all-league honorees, the conference office announced Monday. DiCecco represented the Rams on the first-team, while Hackett picked up a second-team nod.
The pair paved the Rams' way to their 24th consecutive GNAC postseason appearance leading the way offensively and defensively over the 25-game regular-season slate in which they went 18-7 overall and 9-3 against conference counterparts. Suffolk finished the year 19-8 after the fourth-seeded Rams downed the fifth-seeded AMCATs of Anna Maria, 68-58, in the quarterfinals and fell to the top-seeded Monks of No. 10/8 Saint Joseph's (Maine), 84-51, in the semifinals.
DiCecco was the conducter to Suffolk's success as the sophomore floor general directed the Rams' offense with 17.0 points per game and 4.5 assists per game. Her team-high 2.5 steals per game sparked the defensive effort, which limited the Rams' foes to 60.8 ppg, while her 6.0 rebounds per game sat second on the squad. The first-team accolades mark the second honor from the conference in the Falmouth, Massachusetts' career and mark the first time a Ram garnered a spot on the top squad since Iliana Quadri did so in 2014-15. As a sophomore, DiCecco is the youngest Suffolk student-athlete on the league's top team since Katie Norton picked up the feat as a sophomore in 1997-98. DiCecco was also named to the GNAC All-Tournament Team after helping the blue-and-gold to the league's semifinals for the second straight season and 11th time overall.
Hackett took home her second straight all-league honor, first second-team recognition and third accolade from the conference in her career after averaging double-double effort of 11.5 ppg and 11.4 rpg as a junior. The Charlton, Massachusetts local's offensive output was good for second on the team, while her effort on the boards anchored Suffolk's 40.0 rpg.
Senior Shannon Smith concluded her days in Suffolk blue-and-gold on the all-sportsmanship team, which was established 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 32 All-GNAC honor including two rookie of the years, 10 first-team, nine second-team and 12 third-team selections.
2018-19 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL ALL-GNAC
First-Team
Shyla Osmond, Albertus Magnus
Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda, Emmanuel
Kaylee Kacavas, Rivier
Kelsi McNamara, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Jenni-Rose DiCecco, Suffolk
Second-Team
Rah Rah Thompson, Albertus Magnus
Amber Wilson, Anna Maria
Emily Benway, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Cassandra Stapelfeld, Simmons
Alexis Hackett, Suffolk
Third-Team
Tianna Sugars, Colby Sawyer
Maddie McLaughlin, Emmanuel
Kayla Weaver, Emmanuel
Julia Champagne, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Hannah Marks, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Player of the Year– Kelsi McNamara, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Defensive Player of the Year– Kayla Weaver, Emmanuel
Rookie of the Year– Dede Stevenson, Johnson & Wales
Coach of the Year– Mike McDevitt, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Institutional Sportsmanship Award– Saint Joseph (Conn.)
All-Sportsmanship Team
Sasha Byrd, Albertus Magnus
Johanna Burke, Anna Maria
Mackenzie Buzzell, Colby Sawyer
Arina Ovchinnikova, Emmanuel
Tara Murphy, Johnson & Wales
Jaime Caron, Lasell
Jenna Alexander, Norwich
Marissa Parall, Regis
Jackelyn Robarge, Rivier
Raelynn Voislow, Saint Joseph (Conn.)
Hanna Marks, Saint Joseph's (Maine)
Alexandra Kay, Simmons
Shannon Smith, Suffolk