6-2 record in GNAC games puts team in third place in the conference
Article by: Matt West
The Suffolk University women’s basketball team is in the midst of a pretty impressive stretch, as they’ve won their last five games and eight of their last ten. After a couple early season losses at the Emerson College Tip-Off Tournament in late November, the Lady Rams have found their stride. 12-8 overall, they are 6-2 in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference. In their Jan. 28 matchup against conference opponent Mount Ida, the win that started the current streak, two of their youngest players led the charge. Freshman guard
Jacqueline Vienneau had an impressive 19 points on 5-for-9 shooting, while freshman guard Lindsey Rodgers put up an impressive ten point, eleven rebound performance. Two days later against another conference opponent in Rivier, the Rams battled hard for a close 58-56 victory. Sophomore Meghan Black played well, scoring 19 points, while hitting the game winner with just over a minute to go in regulation. Their third win came against Newbury College, during which senior forward Laura Thompson had an impressive 16 point, ten rebound game that was abetted by a solid all-around team effort. Black again scored in double digits by netting 14 points, while sophomore guard Mary Garon grabbed ten boards and five points. Their last two wins came against conference opponents Johnson &Whales and Lasell. Vienneau and Thompson dominated against Johnson & Wales, with the former scoring 20 points, 12 of which came from three-point land. Thompson had another monster game on the boards, recording her fourth double-double of the year with 14 points and 12 rebounds. Against Lasell, Black added another impressive performance with help from freshman forward Kristina Hayner, who had 14 points. With four games remaining in the regular season and a firm grasp on third place in the GNAC, the Rams hope to pad their current winning streak and battle for supremacy in a tough conference. With all underclassmen, except senior Thompson, one would expect some intermittent struggles from a team learning how to play not only as a group, but in a competitive college conference. The leap from high school to college ball, no matter the division, can be challenging.Excluding one or two tough losses, the women have played every game extremely tough. It is scary to think how gelled and cohesive they will be in the coming years, but for now they are proving that a predominantly young group can be competitive. Head coach Ed Leyden has been the lead man of the women’s program since 1994. Since his first season, they have won an average of 18 games per year. His teams have constantly been models of hard work and consistency. This year’s squad is young and athletic, and stands as good a chance as any to finish the season strong and capture a GNAC title. The Lady Rams played a game last night against St. Joseph’s (Maine) that ended too late for this edition.
