Quinnipiac University
FGCU
QU Women's Basketball Falls to Florida Gulf Coast, 71-65, in Hawk Classic Championship
12/29/2014 12:00:00 AM | Women's Basketball
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PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – Locked in a heavyweight clash between two of the best mid-major programs in the country, the Quinnipiac women's basketball team came up just a few plays short as they fell to Florida Gulf Coast, 71-65, in the Hawk Classic Championship on Monday afternoon. Quinnipiac's (10-3) seven-game winning streak comes to an end in the Bobcats' non-conference finale while the Eagles (12-2) win their seventh straight.
In a game that featured 12 lead change and 10 ties, both squads gutted out tremendous efforts throughout the 40 minutes of play. Trailing by eight points with under two minutes remaining, the Bobcats wouldn't wilt away down the stretch as Gillian Abshire (Washington, D.C.) and Samantha Guastella (Red Bank, New Jersey) stepped up with back-to-back three-pointers to make it just a two-point game with 47 ticks remaining.
On FGCU's next possession, Quinnipiac's defense continues to shine like it had all game as Nikoline Ostergaard and Guastella blocked two straight Eagle shots out-of-bounds. Unfortunately for the Bobcats, two straight reviews to determine possession went the way of the Eagles. The crucial possessions for FGCU turned into points as Quinnipiac fouled on the ensuing inbounds and the Eagles drained both free throws to make it a two-possession game.
Needing points and with the clock ticking under 20 seconds remaining, the Bobcats missed their three-point attempt and FGCU converted again at the free throw line to ice away the hard fought victory.
Ostergaard was unstoppable for the second straight game as she pumped in 22 points (8-12 FG; 1-1 3FG; 5-7 FT) to go along with nine rebounds, five assists and two blocks. Combined with her 11 points, nine rebounds and three assists on Sunday against Saint Joseph's, Ostergaard's monster two-game stretch earned her All-Tournament honors as she averaged 16.5 points (61.9% FG), 8.5 rebounds, four assists and one block per game. The 22-point performance against FGCU is the second 20-point game in Ostergaard's career and just four points off her career-high 26 point game at Iona on Jan. 10, 2014.
Joining Ostergaard on the All-Tournament Team was Guastella who chipped in eight points, four rebounds, two blocks, one steal and one assist on Monday. Guastella continues to own the three-point line as she drained two more from deep against FGCU to up her streak to 10 straight game with at least one three-point field goal.
The Bobcat bench played well in spurts as Jennifer Fay (Lynbrook, New York) scored five points with three rebounds in 11 minutes while Maria Napolitano (Cincinnati, Ohio) added five points of her own with three rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench.
The trouble spot all evening was the Eagles' defense as FGCU managed to shut down all four of the Bobcats' starters other than Ostergaard. Guastella, Abshire, Val Driscoll and Jasmine Martin combined for just 25 points, their lowest combined output of the season, on 8-for-30 shooting (26.7 percent).
Neither team gained much separation throughout the first half as the score had FGCU in front by just two points, 29-27. Quinnipiac's defensive focus on one of the nation's highest scoring teams (79.5 points per game) came to fruition as the Eagles shot just 36.7 percent (11-for-30) in the first half.
The Eagles also came in ranked 2nd in the nation in made threes per game (10.4) but the Bobcats proved up to the task, limiting the Eagles to 2-for-11 from the three-point line (18.2 percent) in the first half and 4-for-19 for the game (21.1 percent). Those four made three-pointers represent the lowest total for the Eagles in a single-game this season.
Both sides traded blows throughout the start of the second half but Quinnipiac took control around the 10-minute mark as a 7-1 run gave the Bobcats their largest lead of the second stanza, 52-47.
Even with all the momentum offensively, FGCU came out of a timeout with an answer as the Eagles scored 12 straight points while holding Quinnipiac scoreless for 4:58.
Quinnipiac's nine straight missed field goals allowed the Eagles to build their highest lead of the game, 61-53, while also working the clock as the Bobcats were left with just under three minutes to overcome an eight-point deficit.
Not seeing the ball go in the hole didn't deter the Bobcats grit and determination as Quinnipiac worked the deficit back down to two points, needing one more defensive stand to give them a chance for the win.
Facing the No. 5 ranked school in the College Insider Women's Mid-Major Poll, the Eagles represented the highest-ranked mid-major opponent the Bobcats have faced all season.
Quinnipiac's 2014-15 non-conference slate comes to an end with an overall record of 8-3. Highlighting the run is victories over 2014 NCAA Tournament teams Army, Hampton, Albany and Saint Joseph's as well as a marque win over Alabama in the Women's Hall of Fame Challenge at the Mohegan Sun.
The Bobcats now have 18 remaining MAAC games throughout the rest of the 2014-15 season, starting with a home conference weekend against Niagara (Friday, Jan. 2) and Monmouth (Sunday, Jan. 4). Both games are scheduled to tip at 1:00 pm from the TD Bank Sports Center.
Contact: Maxx McNall; maxx.mcnall@quinnipiac.edu
