#1 Saints Set for Boston Showdown vs. #4 Rams in GNAC Semifinal

BOSTON, Mass. – Top-seeded Emmanuel College is set to host No. 4 Suffolk University in the 2020 Great Northeast Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Semifinals on Thursday, February 27 at 7:00 PM on the Andy Yosinoff Court. The Saints bring an overall record of 19-7 into the contest after posting a 9-2 mark in GNAC play to earn the No. 1 seed in the tourney. The Rams stand at 18-8 overall and posted an 8-3 conference mark to secure the fourth seed.

SEASON AT A GLANCE:

Emmanuel:

• The Saints entered 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 18.1 helpers.
• The squad topped the GNAC in shooting percentage at 41.2%.
• EC is also leading the GNAC in rebounding margin per game, owning a +9.1 average which is good for 35th in the country.

Suffolk

• The Rams rank second behind the Saints in shooting percentage, connecting at a 40.0% clip from the floor this season.
• Suffolk leads the GNAC with 187 three-point field goals made and ranks last in free throws made (243).
• SU averages a league-low 15.6 turnovers per game and ranks third in team-defense, allowing opponents to just 56.0 points a night and an even lower 52.1 ppg in GNAC action.
• Suffolk posted a 16-1 record this season when scoring more than 60 points while going 2-7 when scoring under that mark.

PLAYERS TO WATCH:

Emmanuel:

• Senior guard Yuleska Ramirez-Tejeda (Cambridge, Mass.) leads the country with 20 double-doubles on the year. She ranks fourth in the GNAC in scoring (19.0 ppg), third in rebounding (11.8 rpg) and fourth in field goal percentage (48.1%).
• Senior guard Kayla Weaver (West Haven, Conn.) has been EC's defensive leader all season while also averaging 10.1 points per game. Her lock down defense has helped the Saints hold GNAC opponents to an average of 51.3 ppg as she's recorded 80 steals to rank second in the GNAC and 24th nationally. Weaver is also closing in on 1,000 career points, needing three more to become the 25th 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 regular-season GNAC play, D'Agostino shot 45.1% from the floor to rank fifth in the GNAC.

Suffolk

• Junior guard Jenni-Rose DiCecco (Falmouth, Mass.) in the Suffolk floor general and leading scorer, averaging a team-high 15.6 ppg while ranking first in the GNAC in steals (84) and third in assists (130).
• Senior forward Alexis Hackett (Charlton, Mass.) nearly averages a double-double at 10.6 points and 9.3 rebounds per game and earlier this season became the Rams all-time leader in rebounds, entering this contest with 934 boards.
• Junior swing-player Gabriella DeComo (Portsmouth, R.I.) is a tough match-up for teams at 5'9 but with the skillset of a guard, averaging 10.6 points and 3.4 rebounds per game.

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.

Ed Leyden – Suffolk
Leyden is in his 26th season at the helm of Suffolk's women's basketball program and has compiled an overall record of 421-272 (.608) at Suffolk. He's been named the Great Northeast Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Coach of the Year five times during his tenure while coaching 34 GNAC All-Conference players and eight teams that have qualified for the ECAC tourney.

THE LAST TIME WE MET:

On February 1, Suffolk had four different players scored in double-figures to power past the Saints on Emmanuel's homecourt, 73-59. DiCecco led the way with a game-high 18 points while Hackett added 17. D'Agostino paced Emmanuel with a double-double effort of 17 points and 13 rebounds.

HISTORICALLY SPEAKING:

Over 34 career meetings, EC has been in control of the all-time series with a 31-3 record vs. Suffolk. The Rams have had the Saints number of late, winning two of the last three meetings including a victory in the 2018 GNAC Semifinals.

POSTSEASON HISTORY:

Both programs are playing in their 25th consecutive GNAC tournament since the conference began sponsoring women's basketball back in 1995-96. Emmanuel owns a 60-8 GNAC postseason record for a league-best 16 crowns.

Suffolk has compiled a 17-24 mark in conference tournament action, advancing to the GNAC Semifinals for the 12^th time in program history. The Rams have advanced to the GNAC Finals on five separate occasions but have yet to win a championship.

Head to head in the tournament, Emmanuel is 6-1 all-time against SU. EC is 3-0 vs. the Rams in the GNAC Finals and 3-1 in the GNAC Semifinals. Suffolk's only playoff victory vs. the Saints came on February 22, 2018 in a 73-68 final score in which the #3 Rams upset the #2 Saints to advance to the program's fifth championship appearance.

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
Thursday'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                     65-39, EMM
Game 2: #5 Albertus Magnus at #4 Suffolk - 7:00 PM              103-95, SUF
Game 3: #6 Colby-Sawyer at #3 Regis - 6:00 PM                    61-48, REG
Game 4: #7 JWU at #2 Saint Joseph's Maine - 7:00 PM            59-54, SJM

Semifinals - Thursday, February 27 (at high seeds)
Game 5: #4 Suffolk vs. #1 Emmanuel – 7:00 PM
Game 6: #3 Regis vs. #2 Saint Joseph's Maine – 6:30 PM 

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