Although she is only a freshman, Jen Ruys has already made an immediate impact on the Suffolk University women’s basketball team. Ruys currently leads the team in scoring with 12.5 points per game and is also third in rebounding with 5.6 per game.
Ruys has been a great spark for the Rams, who are 14-6 overall after winning eight consecutive games and 11 out of their last 12. Ruys, a forward on the squad, contributed with 19 points and added eight rebounds in the club’s 80-52 win over Johnson & Wales on February 3.
Two nights later, Ruys scored 17 points and grabbed five rebounds in the club’s 70-50 victory against Lasell.Ruys has excelled in free-throw shooting all season, as she currently leads the team with an 88 free-throw percentage.
Ruys came to Suffolk because she has always loved Boston. After meeting Coach Ed Leyden and talking with him, she knew Suffolk would be the right choice for her.
“I was thrilled last spring when Jen called me and told she was coming to Suffolk,” said Leyden. “I’ve enjoyed the attitude she brings to practice.
“She is good, supportive teammate and a positive person. Jen has it inside her that she wants to be good and is willing to pay the price to be good.”
Leyden added that Ruys is a very smart and coachable player.
“I love players who listen and learn,” said Leyden. “Jen has a solid basketball IQ and asks good questions and has a consistent work ethic. She has a very good outside shoot and in time she may become a very good college player.”
Ruys said she has enjoyed her first year on the women’s basketball squad. Although sometimes a transition like this could be very difficult for an incoming freshman, it has been somewhat seamless for her.
“As a freshman coming on to this team, I’ve been introduced to girls who work as hard as they can at every practice and in every game,” she said. “I think I owe a lot of my personal success to my teammates.
“I’ve enjoyed playing with a great group of girls and being competitive in every game.”
Ruys explained that she has high goals for not only herself but the rest of the team as well.
“I hope I just continue developing as a player for this team,” said Ruys. “There are still many aspects of the game that I want to improve on.
“For the team I hope we keep working hard and make each other better like we have been doing this whole year. We have a great team and our goal is to be in the Great Northeast Athletic Conference finals and win the conference.”
