#1 Women's Basketball Ready to Host #8 Norwich in GNAC Quarterfinal

BOSTON, Mass. – Top-seeded Emmanuel College is set to host No. 8 Norwich University in the 2020 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Quarterfinals on Tuesday, February 25 at 7:30 PM on the Andy Yosinoff Court. The Saints bring an 18-7 overall record to the contest after posting a 9-2 mark in GNAC play to earn the No. 1 seed in the tourney. The Cadets stand at 8-17 overall and posted a 4-7 conference mark to secure the final spot in the field.

SEASON AT A GLANCE:

Emmanuel:

• The Saints enter the conference tournament ranked first in the GNAC in field goals made (701) and second in the GNAC in scoring, averaging 71.5 points per game.
• This year's team currently leads the GNAC while ranking eighth the nation in assists per game, averaging 18.2 helpers.
• The squad topped the GNAC in shooting percentage at 41.3%.
• EC enters the tourney also leading the GNAC in rebounding margin per game, owning a +8.9 average which is good for 31^st in the country.

Norwich

• The Cadets enter the tournament ranked last in the GNAC in scoring average at 48.6 points per game, five points less than the 11^th ranked team in the league.
• While the offense has at times struggled, the NU defensive unit ranks fifth in the GNAC allowing just 58.0 ppg on the season and just 54.9 ppg in league play.
• Norwich also ranked last vs. GNAC teams in field goal percentage, shooting just 28.2% from the floor in conference action.
• Norwich posted a 7-1 record this season when holding opponents to less than 55 points.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Emmanuel:

• Senior guard Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda (Cambridge, Mass.) ended the regular-season leading the nation among D-III women's basketball players with 19 double-doubles on the year. She ranks fourth in the GNAC in scoring (18.9 ppg), fourth in rebounding (11.6 rpg) and fourth in field goal percentage (47.7%).
• Senior guard Kayla Weaver (West Haven, Conn.) has been EC's defensive leader all season while also averaging 9.8 points per game. Her lock down defense has helped the Saints hold GNAC opponents to an average of 52.4 ppg as she's recorded 77 steals to rank third in the GNAC and 22^nd nationally. Weaver is also closing in on 1,000 career points, needing 22 more to become the 25^th player in program history to reach the milestone.
• Sophomore forward Loredana D'Agostino (Broad Brook, Conn.) turned it on when GNAC play began, averaging almost 12 points per game since mid-January. In GNAC play, D'Agostino is shooting 45.1% from the floor to rank fifth in the GNAC.

Norwich

• Junior guard Riley Bennett (Hopkinton, N.H.) led Norwich while ranking 12^th in the GNAC in scoring at 13.5 points per game, scoring in double-figures in 20 games this season.
• Junior forward Kailynne Frederick (Adams, Mass.) nearly averages a double-double at 9.2 points and 8.5 rebounds per game, ranking 10^th in the GNAC in rebounding.
• Junior guard Emily Schromm (North Attleboro, Mass.) has been the top play-maker this season for NU, averaging 3.1 assists per game to rank 10^th in the GNAC. She's started all 19 games she's played in this season and missed the first meeting against Emmanuel.

COACHES' CORNER:

Andy Yosinoff - Emmanuel
In his 43rd campaign with the Saints, Yosinoff is no stranger to the GNAC tournament having led Emmanuel to 16 conference championships over his career. He's compiled an incredible 280-16 (.946) record in regular-season GNAC play and earlier this season, collected his 850^th career victory to become just the 12^th NCAA women's basketball coach to reach the milestone. He's one of six active WBB coaches with 850 wins and the first D-III women's coach to hit the mark.

Mark Zacher – Norwich
Zacher is in his 11^th season at the helm of Norwich's women's basketball program and has compiled an overall record of 150-139 (.519) including 73 victories in GNAC action. Norwich has qualified for nine of 11 GNAC tournament fields under his tutelage, advancing to the GNAC finals in 2010 and 2014 while qualifying for the ECAC tournament in 2010 and 2015. To date, Zacher has developed 12 GNAC All-Conference selections.

THE LAST TIME WE MET:

On January 21, Emmanuel travelled to Northfield, Vt. and posted a 71-46 GNAC victory over the Cadets behind a 20 points/11 rebound outing from Ramirez-Tejeda. The Saints held Norwich to a dismal 28.9% day from the field (13-of-45) while forcing 33 turnovers, the most by NU against any GNAC opponent this season.

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:

Over 42 career meetings to date, Emmanuel has controlled the all-time series with a 38-4 record against Norwich. The last Norwich victory over the Saints came on February 25th, 2014 when the No. 8 Cadets stunned the No.1 ranked Saints 84-78 in overtime in the 2014 GNAC Quarterfinals to end Emmanuel's chance at an unprecedented eighth consecutive GNAC Championship.

POSTSEASON HISTORY:

Emmanuel is no stranger to the GNAC tournament making its 25^th consecutive appearance in the field and owns a 59-8 all-time record for a league-best 16 crowns. Norwich makes its 20^th tournament appearance and has compiled a 25-17 mark that includes nine trips to the GNAC finals with championship wins in 2000 and 2006.

Head to head in the tournament, Emmanuel is 10-2 all-time against NU. In their 12 previous GNAC tournament meetings, only three match-ups between the schools have come in the GNAC quarterfinals (2018, 2014, 2012) with Emmanuel winning in the bookend meetings.

TICKETS
Adult admission is $5.00 and children 12 and under is $3.00. Emmanuel College students, staff and faculty may receive free admission but must present a valid student/college ID at the door.

COVERAGE
Tuesday's GNAC Quarterfinal game will be streamed live on the web with the official call of the game from the voice of the Saints, Matt LaPan. To tune into the live action, click on one of the links below:

LIVE VIDEO
LIVE STATS

GNAC TOURNEY SCHEDULE
Quarterfinals - Tuesday, February 25 (at high seeds)
Game 1: #8 Norwich at #1 Emmanuel - 7:30 PM
Game 2: #5 Albertus Magnus at #4 Suffolk - 7:00 PM
Game 3: #6 Colby-Sawyer at #3 Regis - 6:00 PM
Game 4: #7 JWU at #2 Saint Joseph's Maine - 7:00 PM 

Semifinals - Thursday, February 27 (at high seeds)
Game 5: #4/5 winner vs. #1/8 winner
Game 6: #3/6 winner vs. #2/7 winner 

Championship - Saturday, February 29 (at highest remaining seed)
Game 7: At highest remaining seed