WINTHROP, Mass. – The Suffolk women's basketball team will vie for GNAC glory for its 25th consecutive campaign and do so as the fourths seed, the league office announced.
Suffolk continues its constant presence in the conference playoffs with the Rams never missing a trip, all of which have come under head coach Ed Leyden's guidance, since the inaugural GNAC campaign in 1995-96. The Rams, who will wrap up its run in the conference this week before making the moving to the Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) in 2020-21, look to leave atop the league with their first-ever title.
The fourth seed comes on the heels of a 17-8 regular season and an 8-3 record against conference competition. Suffolk enters the field gunning for its first GNAC crown and does so as the fourth seed for the second straight season and seventh time overall.
The blue-and-gold's first-round foe Albertus Magnus heads to the tournament as the field fifth seed behind an 88-3 league ledger and an 18-7 overall mark.
In the regular-season, Suffolk hung on for a 65-59 victory over the Falcons on neutral hardwood Jan. 16. Gabriella DeComo powered the effort with a 19-point performance with Alexis Hackett contributing a 13-rebound, 11-point double-double.
Suffolk commands the all-time series with Albertus Magnus, 17-8. The Rams and Falcons will battle in the playoffs for the fifth-time first since the 2010 quarterfinals. In the postseason, Suffolk is 3-1 against Albertus Magnus.
In its 24 tournament appearances, Suffolk has advanced to the semifinals on 11 occasions and competed in the championship five times.
Suffolk's quest for the conference crown tips off Tuesday, Feb. 25 when the Falcons visit Smith Court for a 7 p.m. battle.
The winner of Tuesday's battle advances to the semifinals and will take on the victory of the Emmanuel, Norwich contest across town.
2020 GNAC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT
Quarterfinals – Tuesday, Feb. 25
Game 1: #8 Norwich at #1 Emmanuel – 7:30 p.m.
Game 2: #5 Albertus Magnus at #4 Suffolk – 7:00 p.m.
Game 3: #6 Colby Sawyer at #3 Regis – 6:00 p.m.
Game 4: #7 Johnson & Wales at #2 Saint Joseph's (Maine) – 7:00 p.m.
Semifinals – Thursday, Feb. 27
Game 5: Winner of Game 2 vs. Winner of Game 1
Game 6: Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 3
Championship – Saturday, Feb. 29
Game 7: Winner of Game 6 vs. Winner of Game 5