Caitlin Lezell
Journal Staff

Lady Rams return core players

This year’s women’s basketball season is set to open on Tuesday at Curry College. The Rams finished strong last season with a record of 18-11, making it to the Great Northeast Athletic Conference (GNAC) Finals. The girls are hoping to have a similar success this time around, but they know that it will not be easy.
Head Coach Ed Leyden said that the most important aspect of the game for his team is a strong work ethic.
“We always want people to say that we play really hard, and really smart, and really together as a team,” said Leyden, who is returning in his eighteenth year as the coach for this team.
He prides himself on “the culture of hard work” that he and the girls have developed, and that their fans have come to expect.
Leyden has surrounded himself with a strong staff of assistants for this season and that together they are all hoping for positive results. The assistant coaches are Heather Babin, Kelsey Simonds, Ellen Naughton, and Barry Kipnes.
This year’s Rams are made up of eight returning players and five new players. The team captains are Mary Garon, a senior from Auburn, New Hampshire, and Meghan Black, a senior from Roslindale.
“They practice what they preach. They lead by example, they welcome the new players, and they create a winning atmosphere,” Leyden said.
He admits that it is a challenge to recruit strong players to come to Suffolk, as the Rams are in constant competition with other schools in the area, but it is something that the staff works hard at all year, and they have developed a strong, driven team for this season.
He also acknowledges the talent of the other teams in Suffolk’s division, including Emerson, Emmanuel, Mount Ida, Norwich, and St. Joseph’s, which makes it that much harder for the Rams.
“We don’t disrespect our opponents,” said Leyden. “We are playing good teams. We had the second hardest schedule in our league last year according to the NCAA, but we like the challenge.”
It appears that this year is going to be just as difficult, as the Lady Rams start out the season with four of the first five games on the road. The first home game will be on November 28 against Roger Williams.