QU Women's Basketball Names Gillian Abshire, Samantha Guastella and Jasmine Martin Tri-Captains for 2014-15 Season
10/19/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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HAMDEN, Conn. - Quinnipiac women's basketball head coach Tricia Fabbri has named three captains for the upcoming 2014-15 season. Seniors Gillian "Boo" Abshire (Washington, D.C.), Samantha Guastella (Red Bank, N.J.) and Jasmine Martin (Sicklerville, N.J.) will lead the Bobcats as they look to make their 3rd straight conference championship game and 15th consecutive postseason tournament appearance.
Fabbri's announcement places Abshire and Martin into captaincy positions for the third consecutive season as the two were first named captains as sophomores back in the 2012-13 NCAA Tournament participant and Northeast Conference Championship season. Ever since Abshire and Martin have taken on the leadership positions for the Bobcats, Quinnipiac has achieved an astonishing overall record of 51-16, 32-6 in conference play and back-to-back appearances in the conference championship game. Fabbri now adds a solid four-year contributor and constant team energizer in Guastella to the mix as her team is primed for another strong season in the Bobcats' second year in the MAAC.
Abhsire, now a three-time captain for the Bobcats, has appeared in and started all 99 games at the point guard position since first arriving as a freshman in 2011-12. As durable as any guard in the country, Abshire has blossomed into one of the nation's elite playmakers over the last two seasons. With averages of 7.1 points per game, 6.6 assists per game (10th in NCAA Div. I) and 3.9 rebounds per game, her all-around ability garnered All-MAAC Third Team honors in 2013-14. Her supreme ball-handling ability is evidenced by her 3.48 assists/turnover ratio last season which ranked 3rd in the country. Abshire's 223 assists last season broke Maria Holland's 32-year-old single-season program record at Quinnipiac while she now enters her senior season needing 193 more to break the all-time assists record for the Bobcats.
"Boo (Gillian) is the quintessential leader," Fabbri said. "She's taken charge here since day one. Her presence gives us another coach on the floor. When Boo speaks, the team listens."
Guastella, the Bobcats' breakout star in 2013-14, enters her first year as a team captain after setting new career highs across the board last season. In her first full season as a full-time starter, Guastella started all 34 games in 2013-14 and averaged new career highs across the board with 11.1 points, 6.2 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.3 blocks while shooting at a 43.9 percent clip from the floor. A true stretch power forward, Guastella was the Bobcats' marksman from the oustide as she drained a single-season program record 70 three-pointers while shooting the three ball at a 37.1 percent clip.
"Sam (Guastella) is an infectious personality," Fabbri said. "Teammates want to be around Sam. She's a great player and a better person."
Martin, a three-time captain and three-time All-Conference performer (2013-14 All-MAAC Second Team), has been one of the Bobcats' go-to scorers since first arriving on-campus as a freshman in 2011-12. A steady performer with 97 career games under her belt, Martin posted the best statistcal season of her career as a junior in 2013-14 with averages of 15 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 0.9 steals per game. Her free throw shooting (77.2 percent) puts her in the Top 10 of the MAAC and gives Fabbri plenty of confidence late in games. A double-digit points per game scorer in each of her first three years, Martin has already eclipsed the 1,000 career point milestone and sits 13th all-time at Quinnipiac with 1,268 points.
"Jasmine (Martin) has been a fearless go-to player since her freshman year," Fabbri said. "She relishes the big spot. She believes in herself and the team believes in her."
Quinnipiac will open the season at home on Saturday, Nov. 15 as the Bobcats welcome the Army Black Knights, a 2014 NCAA Tournament team, to Lender Court at the TD Bank Sports Center at 2:00 PM.
Contact: Maxx McNall; maxx.mcnall@quinnipiac.edu
