Courtesy Newport Daily News written by Steve Rogers

NEWPORT — The starting five for the Suffolk University women's basketball team were being introduced Wednesday night to fans inside the Rodgers Recreation Center prior to the introduction of host Salve Regina.

The public address announcer called out the final starter for the Rams as a 5-foot-9 junior from Portsmouth, Rhode Island, Gabby DeComo. About eight rows of fans in the middle section of the stands stood and applauded. None of the Salve starters was met with such enthusiasm.

DeComo, a Portsmouth High School graduate now in her junior year at Suffolk, scored four points and had a game-best four assists as the visitors downed Salve Regina 67-44.

After high school, DeComo knew she wanted to continue playing basketball at the college level and was looking for a school where she could do so. 

"I recruited her and two or three other schools wanted her, too," Suffolk coach Ed Leyden said. "I'm thrilled she chose us."

"I really wasn't sure where I wanted to play," DeComo said. "But I always loved the campus. It took a while to get used to being in the city because at home all you do is drive everywhere. Here all you do is walk everywhere. I love it here."

DeComo was the typical recruit, according to Leyden, one he didn't mind taking a chance on. 

"She was raw, talented and willing but needed a lot of work, as most freshmen do," the coach said. "When you get a freshman, you know they have to develop. You just don't know if they have it inside them to do that. She has that drive. She really wants to be good."

DeComo was an all-state selection with Portsmouth, but quickly learned that being a top player from Rhode Island — or from anywhere else for that matter — didn't mean much when she stepped onto the court at Division III Suffolk.

"The difference between high school and college is that every player on every college team was probably the best player on their high school team," DeComo said. "Everybody is really good. It's really competitive."

It didn't take long for Leyden to know he made a wise decision in recruiting DeComo.

"She practices at 100 percent and brings it to every practice," Leyden said. "She's a real hard worker, she listens, learns and is a team-first kid. Gabby had a great mentor her freshman year, and now the freshmen look at her work ethic and commitment. She's passing it on."

The mentor Leyden mentioned was Georgia Bourikas. She was a fifth-year senior recovering from a knee injury when DeComo became her teammate.

"She played the same position as me and didn't hesitate to tell me anything, whether it was good or bad," DeComo said. "She had the experience and I listened to her. When I played as a freshman, I really didn't try to score. She just told me to take my shot. She helped me be confident."

DeComo rarely passed up a shot in high school while averaging around 20 points per game. But sometimes players DeComo guarded were able to get past her and coast in for a layup.

"In high school I was mostly a scorer," DeComo said. "I relied on that and nobody ever said anything. I realized I had to do more."

Since DeComo arrived at Suffolk, she's spent long hours getting better at the defensive end of the floor. The improvement has helped her rise her minutes per game from 11 as a freshman to 26 as a junior.

"When she first got here, we were hiding her as a defender," Leyden said. "Now we've gone from hiding her to having her guard the other team's best perimeter player. She's made herself into a solid man-to-man defender."

While DeComo's game has matured, so too has her attitude.

"When I first got here, I could keep up defensively but I didn't have the technical skills," DeComo said. "Now I try to go into the games focused on defense. I let the points come. Scoring is more of a team thing. I don't set expectations with scoring anymore. If I can shut down my player on defense, I can help us win that way."

Now in her third year at Suffolk, DeComo may take her game more seriously than ever before. She consistently works on improving year round.

"When my friends are at the beach or doing something else, I just try to think that some players are working out trying to get better and that means they've already got a step on me," DeComo said. "This past summer I played in a league in Providence with some kids I knew in high school and through AAU.

"But I also do a lot on my own. I don't go to a trainer anymore. I lift weights and work out on my own. I take pride in that and I hold myself accountable."

Her efforts have been noticed.

"What's really impressed me about Gabby is each summer she comes back she's added something to her game," Leyden said. "She hasn't flat-lined or leveled out. She wants to keep getting better. She's turned herself into a very solid Division III player."

DeComo is happy she chose to attend Suffolk and has formed some solid connections with the players on her team.

"I've had a lot of fun and made good friends," DeComo said. "I really like my teammates and playing with them. That's really made a difference, too."

Women's Basketball at Salve Regina