BIDDEFORD, Maine – The Suffolk women's basketball team has been projected to finish fourth in the 10-team Commonwealth Coast Conference (CCC) per the league's Preseason Coaches' Poll released Wednesday.
Roger Williams was almost a unanimous choice to claim the CCC Championship with eight of the possible 10 first place votes for 95 points.
From there, just three points separated spots two through fourth with the Rams, who made their debut in the poll, landing in the fourth behind 76 points and one first-place nod. The University of New England slid into second with 79 points and Endicott took third with 77 points.
Western New England received the final first-place pick for 71 points to round out the top five.
In the past five seasons under head coach Ed Leyden, the Rams have either met or exceeded the conference's preseason expectations three times. The preseason predictions have never slowed Suffolk down from making a post-season tournament, however, as the blue-and-gold punched its ticket in all 25 campaigns it competed in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) and looks to keep that trend going as it transitions into the CCC.
A handful of CCC programs got a sneak peek at Leyden's Rams a year ago in the COVID condensed season in which Suffolk went 7-1. The calendar featured home-and-home series with conference counterparts Curry, Endicott, Gordon and Nichols.
Nearly all of Suffolk's squad is back from last season including Jenni-Rose DiCecco and Gabriella DeComo, who took advantage of their fifth year. DiCecco is in the hunt to become Suffolk's all-time leading scorer as she enters the year just 131 points shy of the mark. DeComo, meanwhile, will look to continue to be a consistent contributor on the offensive and defensive ends. The twosome will be complimented by seniors Natalie Fraioli (10.4 ppg), Allie Lopes (9.0 ppg) and Emily Welling (9.0 ppg, 8.5 rpg), as well as a handful of newcomers that could add depth in the front and back courts.
Suffolk's 41st season is set to get underway Tuesday, Nov. 2 in a battle with its Boston Commons neighbor Emerson. The Rams will use all six outings in November to prep for its inaugural CCC contest, a midweek match at the University of New England Wednesday, Dec. 1.
| 2021-22 CCC WOMEN'S BASKETBALL PRESEASON POLL | ||||
| SCHOOL 1. Roger Williams 2. Univeresity of New England 3. Endicott 4. Suffolk 5. Western New England 6. Gordon 7. Salve Regina 8. Nichols 9. Curry 10. Wentworth |
POINTS (FPV) 95 (8) 79 77 76 (1) 71 (1) 49 36 33 22 12 |
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