The Suffolk University women’s basketball team is in the middle of one of their best seasons in a long time, finishing the GNAC Conference with a 10-2 record while posting a 21-7 overall season record.

Now the Lady Rams are ready for the ECAC tournament. After a strong regular season the Lady Rams produced great results in the GNAC playoffs. Through a solid team effort and superb individual talent the team managed to win both the quarter and semifinals in the tournament.

In the semi-finals the Lady Rams beat a powerful St. Joseph team 53-45. Head coach Ed Leyden, who was recently awarded GNAC conference Women’s Basketball Coach of the Year for the 2012-2013 season, spoke about the game: “It was an intense game and we knew it was going to be a challenge. St. Joseph is a very well coached team with a lot of great players.” A lot of weight was lifted from the Lady Ram’s shoulders after the victory and the team is now in GNAC final, where they will face a worthy Emmanuel team that had not lost a conference game in 14 years. The Lady Rams fell to Emmanuel 68-45.

Coach Leyden gave his view on the game: “It was heart breaking and frustrating to lose that game. We had high hopes and we fought hard out there, but Emmanuel did a great job and won the game.It’s been one of my most fun seasons here at Suffolk. I am close to the captains and there are strong relationships between the players. The team is likable and we have very good chemistry. There is a lot of talent in this team and when you combine that with hard work you get very good basketball players. Also the captains Jacqueline Vienneau and Lindsey Rogers have done an outstanding job of integrating new players in the team and creating a great atmosphere.”

Despite the loss to Emmanuel, the Lady Rams second place finish in the GNAC conference secured their participation in the ECAC tournament, the regional tournament in which the best eight Division III teams of New England compete. Suffolk is seeded second and will face seventh seeded Endicott College in the ECAC quarter-finals Wednesday night at 7 pm. The team lost to Endicott earlier this season 54-58 in non conference play, and are now looking to change that result. A victory in this game would take the team to the ECAC semi-final where they will face either Salve Regina or Wellesley College. Castleton State is the No. 1 seed in the tournament and a team Suffolk should watch out for. Castleton has a record of 26-2 this season. Just like Suffolk, Castleton lost their conference final (the NAC conference) and are looking to bounce back on the right track. The ECAC tournament will be an interesting one and with the great chemistry on the team and individual performances by Jacqueline Vienneau, Jennifer Ruys, Lindsey Rogers and Illana Quadri, the Lady Rams can go very far in this tournament. The Lady Rams will host Endicott in the Regan Gym Wednesday at 7 p.m.