#2 WOMEN'S BASKETBALL READY TO HOST #7 COLBY-SAWYER IN GNAC QUARTERFINALS

BOSTON, Mass. – The Emmanuel College women's basketball team is set to host Colby-Sawyer College in the 2019 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Quarterfinals on Tuesday, February 19 at 5:30 PM on the Andy Yosinoff Court. The Saints bring a 20-5 overall record to the contest after posting a 10-1 mark in the GNAC to earn the No. 2 seed in the GNAC. The Chargers stand at 14-11 overall and posted a 6-6 mark in the GNAC to secure the No. 7 seed.

SEASON AT A GLANCE:

Emmanuel:

• The Saints enter the GNAC Tournament ranked first in the GNAC in scoring, averaging 81.9 points per game which also ranks fourth in the nation behind just Westfield State (88.4), Thomas Moore (84.5) and Bowdoin (84.2).
• This year's team currently leads the nation in Assists per game, averaging 20.4 helpers.
• The squad topped the GNAC in shooting percentage (45.6%) which ranks ninth among D-III programs
• EC enters the tourney also leading the GNAC in rebounding margin per game, owning a +9.5 average which is also good for 25^th in the country.

Colby-Sawyer:

• In their inaugural season in the GNAC, the Chargers bring the GNAC's eighth ranked scoring offense into the post-season at 58.4 points per game.
• Colby-Sawyer is known more for their defensive unit, ranking second in the conference for points allowed with an average of just 57.0 ppg surrendered.
• CSC proved to be very disciplined this year, leading the GNAC in fouls per game with a league low of just 13.8 per game which also ranked 28^th in the nation.
• From December 3 through January 12, Colby-Sawyer posted a 9-1 record over a 10-game span but has just played at just a 3-7 clip since their mid-season hot streak.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Emmanuel:

• Junior guard Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda (Cambridge, Mass.) is the Saints top offensive and rebounding threat and is currently the only player in the GNAC averaging over 20+ points and 10+ rebounds per game. She enters the playoffs with 16 double-doubles on the year.
• Senior guard Madison McLaughlin (Westerly, R.I.) has been the Saints top shooting threat all season long, connecting on an Emmanuel single-season record of 71 three-pointers which also tops all GNAC shooters and ranks 25^th in the nation.
• Junior guard Kayla Weaver (West Haven, Conn.) has been EC's defensive leader all season while also averaging 13.5 points per game. Her lock down defense has helped the Saints hold GNAC opponents to an average of 60.3 ppg as she's recorded a league-high 79 steals.

Colby-Sawyer:

• Junior co-captain Tianna Sugars (Oxford, Maine) finished the regular-season as just one of five GNAC players to average a double-double on the year with 16.5 points and 10.7 rebounds per game.
• Fellow junior co-captain Lexi Hamilton (Sunapee, N.H.) had been averaging 13 points and a GNAC-best 7.2 assists per game before having her season come to an end earlier this month.
• Junior guard Kristen Donaghey (Franklin, Mass.) will look to pick up some of the scoring load, averaging just under nine points a game this season.

COACHES' CORNER:

Andy Yosinoff - Emmanuel
In his 42^nd campaign with the Saints, Yosinoff is no stranger to the GNAC tournament having led Emmanuel to 15 conference championships over his career. He's compiled an incredible 270-14 (.951) record in regular-season GNAC play and earlier this season, moved atop the NCAA record books for career victories by a Women's Basketball Head Coach at the NCAA's Division III level. On December 30, 2018, Yosinoff tallied his 816^th win to move past former Scranton Head Coach Mike Strong as the NCAA's career leader for coaching wins in Division III. His all-time record now stands at 828-280 (.747).

George Martin – Colby-Sawyer
A fellow veteran of the sidelines, Martin has been at the Colby-Sawyer helm for 25 seasons in which his team has never missed the postseason. Behind his leadership, the Chargers have qualified for the NCAA tournament seven times while also earning seven bids to the ECAC tournament. Over his career, his squads have put together a record of 299-72 (.806) in conference play across four leagues (NAC, TCCC, NEWAC, GNAC). Coach Martin has been named his respective conference Coach of the Year on five occasions throughout his career.

THE LAST TIME WE MET:

It will have only been three days between meetings as these squads squared off on Saturday, February 16 in the GNAC regular-season finale. Emmanuel cruised to a 77-50 victory behind a 24 point outing by Ramirez-Tejeda while forcing the Chargers into 26 turnovers on the afternoon. The Saints also got a combined 22 points from their bench compared to just four from the CSC reserves.

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:

A relatively unfamiliar opponent for the Saints, Emmanuel is just 4-0 all-time against Colby-Sawyer due to the Chargers just joining the GNAC at the start of the 2018-19 academic year.

POSTSEASON HISTORY:

Emmanuel is no stranger to the GNAC tournament making its 24^th consecutive appearance in the field while the Chargers make their first appearance. The Saints own a 56-8 all-time GNAC tournament record with 15 championship wins, but the program has not come out on top since 2013.

TICKETS
Adult admission is $5.00 and children 12 and under is $2.00. 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 Semifinal 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
Tuesday, February 19 - Quarterfinals
Game 1: #8 Johnson & Wales at #1 Saint Joseph's Maine – 6:00 PM 
Game 2: #5 Anna Maria at #4 Suffolk - 5:00 PM
Game 3: #6 Regis at #3 Albertus Magnus - 7:00 PM
Game 4: #7 Colby-Sawyer at #2 Emmanuel – 5;30 PM

Thursday, February 21 - Semifinals
Game 5: 4/5 winner vs 1/8 winner
Game 6: 3/6 winner vs 2/7 winner

Saturday, February 23 - Final
Game 7: Highest remaining seed