QU Women's Basketball Opens 2017 Back at Home Against Saint Peter's on Monday

Monday, January 2

Hamden, CT

7:00 PM

Quinnipiac University

Saint Peter's

Tickets

QU Women's Basketball Opens 2017 Back at Home Against Saint Peter's on Monday

12/31/2016 6:16:00 PM | Women's Basketball

Bobcats Return to the TD Bank Sports Center for First Time Since December 6

By: QU Sports Information

Quinnipiac Bobcats (10-3, 3-0 MAAC) vs.
Saint Peter's Peacocks (3-9, 2-1 MAAC)
Date: Monday, Jan. 2, 2017 | 7:00 PM
Location: TD Bank Sports Center | Hamden, Conn.
All-Time Series vs. Saint Peter's: Quinnipiac leads 7-0
Last Meeting: W, 84-51 (Dec. 1, 2016 at SPU)

Follow the Bobcats:

LIVE STATS
FREE LIVE VIDEO
LIVE AUDIO (WQUN) (Bill Schweizer, play-by-play; Billy Mecca, color)
GAME NOTES: Quinnipiac | Saint Peter's
FOLLOW ON TWITTER

RINGING IN THE NEW YEAR
After closing out 2016 with an offensive barrage on Friday at Rider, the Quinnipiac women's basketball team opens the New Year at home against Saint Peter's at 7 PM on Monday. Fresh off a 12-point road win in a battle of the two top teams in the conference, Quinnipiac recorded season highs in points (91), field goals made (31), field goal percentage (53.4) and free throws made (24) in the victory over the Broncs. Now the Bobcats return home for the first time since Dec. 6, playing host to the Peacocks just one month removed from defeating Saint Peter's, 84-51, in Jersey City back on Dec. 1.

SCOUTING THE PEACOCKS

Saint Peter's (3-9, 2-1 MAAC) has only three wins on the season but they're off to a great start in conference play with two wins in their first three contests (one loss coming to the first place Bobcats)
Picked last in the MAAC preseason coaches' poll, the Peacocks have surprised many with their start to league play which includes impressive wins at Marist (73-69) and at home over Niagara (78-66)
In the Dec. 30 home win over the Purple Eagles, the Peacocks' leading scorer Talia Hughes finished with a season high 21 points on 9-of-14 shooting to go along with eight rebounds, three assists and two steals in 38 minutes
Hughes has been a revelation in her junior season, leading the team at 12.9 points per game while shooting 49.2 percent from the floor to go along with 6.0 rebounds and 1.9 assists per game
Three Peacocks hit double figures in the win over Niagara including a career high 18 from Zoe Pero and 16 from Janelle Mullen
Pero's 18-point effort was a huge boost for the Peacocks as the rookie finished with career highs across the board in points (18), minutes (31), field goals made (4), field goals attempted (7), free throws made (10), free throws attempted (11), rebounds (8), assists (3) and blocks (3)
Mullen is having a quality season in just her sophomore year as she is averaging 9.9 points (35.1 3FG%), 3.2 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game
Preseason All-MAAC Second Team selection Sajanna Bethea hasn't played to her full potential yet on the season but she is prone for a big night at any moment as she comes in averaging 10.1 points (37.8 FG%) and 6.8 rebounds per game
Bethea is coming off a sophomore season in which she averaged 12.1 points and 7.1 rebounds while shooting 41.8 percent
Freshman Sammy Lochner is a dangerous threat from long range as she comes in leading the MAAC in three-point percentage (44.4) as she has hit on 12-of-27 attempts from downtown in 2016-17
Through three MAAC games, Saint Peter's sits third in the conference in scoring offense (67.3) but have allowed the most points per game (73.0) in the league
If Saint Peter's can get to the free throw line they can pose a severe threat as the Peacocks are first in MAAC-only games in free throw percentage (81.8) and second in free throw makes (45)
The three-point shot has also been there for the Peacocks all season as Saint Peter's is second in the league shooting 41.1 percent from long range in MAAC-only games

ALL-TIME AGAINST SAINT PETER'S

Quinnipiac has never lost to the Peacocks in seven all-time meetings
The most-recent game ended in a 84-51 victory for the Bobcats down in Jersey City on Dec. 1, 2016
Injuries thrust freshmen Vanessa Udoji (16 points, seven rebounds) and Paige Warfel (11 points, seven rebounds, three steals) into the Bobcats' rotation against the Peacocks and both delivered with huge outings in their first chance at extended minutes in their respective careers
In their first season in the MAAC, Quinnipiac scored a pair of dominating victories as the Bobcats won on the road 71-40 and at home 67-44
A very similar sequence played out in 2014-15 as the Bobcats picked up a 81-50 road win and followed up with another 30+ point victory (82-52) at home
Saint Peter's play improved significantly last season in two games against the Bobcats as they fell in Hamden 66-49 and at home 65-53
Both margins last season were the two lowest margin of victories for the Bobcats in seven all-time meetings with Saint Peter's

BIG MOVERS IN THE MAAC
Since joining the MAAC in 2013-14, Quinnipiac has reeled off a record of 61-11 (.847) in all games against MAAC opponents and 54-9 (.857) in regular season MAAC games, both records that currently lead all teams in the conference. The Bobcats surpassed longtime conference power Marist who owns a mark of 55-16 (.775) against conference foes over the last three seasons and stand 49-14 (.778) in regular season MAAC play.

HOME LOVIN
The TD Bank Sports Center, home of the Quinnipiac Bobcats, has long been one of the most difficult arenas to play at in the country. Since the 2012-13 season, Quinnipiac owns a record of 55-7 (.887) in games played at home. In just the last three seasons (since 2014-15), Quinnipiac owns a mark of 30-3 (.909). That mark easily ranks as the best in the MAAC while it also places them with the 16th-best home win percentage in the nation over the last three seasons. The Bobcats' 14-0 mark at home in 2014-15 made them one of just 14 teams in the nation to finish with an undefeated home record.

GOOD POINT
Quinnipiac went for a season high 91 points in a road win over Rider (12/30) that included season-bests in field goals made (31), field goal percentage (53.4) and free throws made (24). The 91-point night is tied for the eighth-most points scored in a single-game since Quinnipiac joined the NCAA Div. I ranks (1998-99) while it also marks the first time the Bobcats have gone over 90 points in a game this season as the previous season-high was in a 84-51 win at Saint Peter's (12/1). In the last four seasons (since 2013-14), Quinnipiac has scored 90+ points eight times, in the previous 15 seasons the Bobcats scored 90+ points just three times since joining Div. I.

I'LL TAKE A MCCLURE-Y WITH THAT
Finishing with her first double-double of the season at Rider (12/30), McClure stuffed the stat sheet with 14 points (5-11 FG) and 11 rebounds to go along with four assists and four steals in 27 minutes. McClure notched the first double-double for a Bobcat on the season and the fifth of her career. Eight of McClure's 14 points came in the fourth quarter including a pair of buckets early in the frame to fight off a pesky Rider squad threatening to reclaim the lead.

POINTS FOR HER ARE A SHEWAN
Sarah Shewan is beginning to find her niche on the offensive end as she has tallied a new career high in two of the last three games. Her recent uptick began with a 19-point effort against No. 25/15 Oregon State (12/20) in the Play4Kay Shootout where she shot 7-of-13 overall and 3-for-3 from three-point range. Just one game removed from the breakout performance, Shewan exploded for a new career high 20 points on 6-of-8 shooting and 8-for-9 from the charity stripe. All of this is coming directly after a three-game span wherein Shewan posted just three points. Over the first 10 games of the season, Shewan averaged 4.4 points (26.2 FG%) per game but has since averaged 14.7 PPG (62.5 FG%) in the last three contests.

MARTUCCI MAKING HER MARK
Adily Martucci continues to produce in a breakout redshirt senior season as she came through with 16 points (6-10 FG, 2-3 3FG) in 30 minutes at Rider (12/30). Martucci's team-leading seventh double-digit outing of the season continues a season-long trend that has the guard producing career highs across the board in terms of field goal percentage (44.0), three-point field goal percentage (37.0), free throw percentage (88.9), steals (1.7) and points (10.6). She is the lone Bobcat averaging double figures while her 44.0 FG% ranks 15^th overall in the MAAC and fifth among guards.

FABBRI FINDING HER WAY
Coming off a breakthrough sophomore season wherein she averaged 6.3 PPG on 36.4 3FG%, Carly Fabbri struggled with her shooting in the early going of 2016-17 as she contributed 2.6 PPG while shooting just 17.4 percent (4-23 3FG) from long range through the first 10 games of the new season. Fabbri has since broke through averaging 7.7 PPG on a much-improved 70 percent (7-10 3FG) shooting from long range in the last three games. In that span she tallied a season high 12 points (4-6 3FG) against Long Beach State and followed with eight (2-2 3FG) points at Rider. With just four three-point makes through the opening 10 games, Fabbri has since made seven over the last three games alone and has at least one make from deep in three straight games.

WHO'S GONNA GO OFF THIS GAME?
Quinnipiac has long preached team depth as one of its biggest strengths and the 2016-17 season is certainly no different as seven players are averaging at least six points per game. No other team in the MAAC has that many as Marist is the second-closest with six. That depth has shown through on a consistent basis as the Bobcats have seen eight different players post a single-game team-leading scoring total on the season. Another key note is the Bobcats lead the MAAC in scoring offense (69.8) but are tied with Manhattan for the fewest 10+ PPG scorers in the conference as Adily Martucci is the lone Quinnipiac player averaging double figures in points.

ALL-AROUND ARYN
Struggling to find her shot for the large part of non-conference play, Aryn McClure is starting to find her shot as she is averaging 11.0 PPG, 8.7 RPG, 3.7 APG and 3.0 SPG in 25.3 MPG over the last three contests. McClure's 14-point effort against Rider was her fifth double digit scoring output of the season and her second in the last three games. Even with the scoring trouble early in the season, McClure's all-around impact cannot be understated as she leads the team and ranks second in the MAAC in rebounding (7.7). She also ranks second on the team in assists (36) while she sits atop the team in steals (26) and blocks (20). McClure is the only player in the conference to lead her respective team in rebounding, steals and blocks.

JOHNSON JOINIING THE FRAY
Brittany Johnson was a go-to scorer for the Bobcats as she pumped in 13 points (4-8 FG, 4-5 FT) with a season high seven rebounds in a 63-60 victory over Long Beach State. This came just two games removed from a career and game high 16 points (6-10 FG, 2-3 3FG) to go along with six rebounds and a season high three steals in an 82-59 win at Hartford (12/10). Johnson's fourth double digit scoring output of the season. Now in her third season, Johnson's scoring is a key indicator to the Bobcats' success as Quinnipiac owns a mark of 7-1 in games in which she hits double figures in scoring. Her scoring has also improved significantly this season as she has four 10+ point outings through 13 games in 2016-17 compared to just four double digit games through 53 contests in her freshman and sophomore seasons.

BIG NIGHT FOR SHEWAN
Sarah Shewan had herself a night against No. 25/15 Oregon State as she came up with a career high 19 points, including 11 in the first quarter, as she accounted for nearly one-third of the Bobcats' total 60 points scored on the evening. She eclipsed her previous career-best of 18 from a game against Army West Point in the season-opener to the 2015-16 season. For Shewan, the 19-point effort signaled her second double digit outing of the season while her 3-of-3 shooting from downtown gives her a new single-game career best for makes from three-point range. In her previous three games, Shewan had recorded just three points combined while she also came in with just two makes from behind the arc all season prior to finishing with three makes in her 20-minute scoring barrage.

BIG GAME PERFORMER
??????Adily Martucci continues to enjoy a breakout redshirt senior season for the Bobcats as she put together another solid outing against No. 25/15 Oregon State, tallying 12 points (5-12 FG) in 22 minutes while playing great defensively against All-American candidate Sydney Wiese. Martucci has shown a tendency to play her best against the best competition as she is averaging a team-leading 13.3 points per game while shooting 43.8 percent (14-32 FG) in the three games the Bobcats have played against high-major foes (Temple, Michigan State, Oregon State) this season. She went for eight points against the Owls, a career high 20-point night against the Spartans and most-recently 12 against the Beavers. For the season, Martucci leads the team with seven double digit point performances.

TONS OF TOOLS IN HER ARSENAL
Aryn McClure has been an all-around force this season as she owns averages of 7.4 points, 7.7 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.0 steals and 1.5 blocks in 23.8 minutes per game. Out of the 11 schools in the MAAC, McClure is the only player in the league to lead her team in minutes (309), rebounds (100), steals (26) and blocks (20). She is coming off an outing against Rider where she filled up the box score with 14 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, four steals and one block in 27 minutes.

SHE GOT GAME
Jen Fay continues to dominate on the offensive end for the Bobcats as she tallied a game high 19 points on 7-for-10 shooting and 3-of-5 from deep in a 73-47 win over Siena. After scoring 10+ points just once in her freshman season, Fay has notched five double digit outings for the Bobcats. In those five games, Fay is averaging 15.2 points per game while shooting a blistering 60.4 percent (29-48 FG) overall, 45.5 percent (10-22 3FG) from behind the arc and 88.9 percent (8-9 FT) from the charity stripe.

FORCING THE ISSUE
The Bobcat defense pitched a stellar defensive outing against Siena as the Saints were forced into 34 turnovers while Quinnipiac came up with 20 steals in the winning effort. The 34 forced turnovers for Quinnipiac are the second-most by a Bobcat opponent in a single-game in the Bobcats' Div. I program history (since 1998-99) – Quinnipiac forced Manhattan into 35 turnovers last season on Dec. 6, 2015.

TOP SPOT IN THE MAAC
Through 13 games this season, Quinnipiac holds the lead in eight different statistical categories while the Bobcats are ranked no worse than third out of 11 MAAC teams in 14 out of 21 major team statistics. Quinnipiac leads the MAAC in scoring offense (69.8), scoring margin (+9.1), field goal percentage defense (36.9), three-point field goal percentage defense (26.9), blocked shots (4.5), assists (16.8), steals (12.0), turnover margin (+5.31) and assist/turnover ratio (1.02).

FRESHMAN FITS RIGHT IN
Freshman Vanessa Udoji responded with a pair of impressive outings in wins over Saint Peter's and Siena, as the rookie was thrust into the rotation due to injuries. In those two games, Udoji averaged 14.5 PPG as she pumped in a team-leading 16 points against the Peacocks and followed with 13 against the Saints. Udoji shot 62.5 percent (10-16 FG) from the floor while adding five rebounds per contest in just 21.5 minutes per game. Her production on the defensive end has also been stellar as she tied for the team-lead with seven steals including a single-game high mark (five) against Siena that stands as the most for any Bobcat in a game this season. Prior to the uptick, Udoji had appeared in just nine total minutes in the first five games of the season (three DNP's) with two points scored.

POINTS ALL AROUND
Five Bobcats – Vanessa Udoji 16, Adily Martucci 13, Paige Warfel 11, Jen Fay 10 and Paula Strautmane 10 – hit double figures in the box score in a dominating 84-51 road win over Saint Peter's. This marked the first time since a road win over Rider back on Feb. 26, 2015 (44 games ago) that five Bobcats finished with at least 10 points in the same game.

SHE'S A THORN-TON IN THEIR SIDE
Edel Thornton posted one of the best games of her young career in an 84-51 road win at Saint Peter's as she tallied five points to go along with her seven assists against no turnovers in 17 minutes. Thornton's seven-assist outing is good enough for a career high as well as the most assists for any Bobcat in a game this season. In fact, Thornton dished out the most assists in a single-game without a turnover since the program's all-time assist leader Gillian Abshire posted 11 assists and no turnovers in a home win over Iona on Feb. 9, 2015 (50 games ago).

HAVE A DAY JEN FAY
Temple's hot shooting spoiled what was the best game of redshirt sophomore Jen Fay's young caree as she finished with a career and game high 26 points on 10-of-13 shooting, 3-of-5 from three and 3-for-3 at the free throw line. Fay added six rebounds and two steals in just 25 minutes of action as she easily surpassed her previous career-best total of 11. Her 26 points also represents the highest single-game point total by a Bobcat since Samantha Guastella went for 28 in a home win over Siena on Dec. 5, 2014 (66 games ago).

STREAK BUSTED
Quinnipiac has enjoyed a great deal of success over the past three seasons when building a first half lead. After starting 2016-17 with a mark of 2-0 when owning a halftime lead, the Bobcats recently saw one of their most impressive streaks in program history come to an end in a 71-68 loss at Temple. Quinnipiac's three-point loss signaled the first time the Bobcats had lost a game in which they held a halftime lead since the 2014 MAAC Championship game against Marist. The undefeated streak, which lasted over the course of three seasons, came to an end at 45 straight wins for the Bobcats when holding a halftime lead. Quinnipiac went undefeated in both 2014-15 (24-0) and 2015-16 (19-0) and for the first two games of 2016-17 before suffering the defeat. They now stand with a mark of 48-1 (.980) since the start of 2014-15 in games in which the Bobcats lead at the half.

VOTERS TAKING NOTICE
Voters are taking notice of Quinnipiac and their 9-3 start to 2016-17 as the Bobcats earned the No. 6 ranking in the College Insider Mid-Major Poll on Tuesday. The Bobcats have been ranked in the Top 10 of the mid-major poll all seven weeks of the season while Quinnipiac earned the program's highest-ever ranking in the poll (No. 4) earlier this season.

FLIPPING THE SCRIPT
One of the most telling statistical trends all season for the Bobcats has been in the turnover department as Quinnipiac owns a +69 advantage (+5.3 per game; 32^nd in the nation) in turnover margin. The Bobcats have turned the ball over just 214 times while forcing the opposition into 283 turnovers (21.8 per game) which ranks 19^th in the nation. Just four of the Bobcats' 13 opponents this season have committed less than 20 turnovers in a single-game. The pressure-packed team defensive approach has translated directly into points as the Bobcats have outscored their 13 opponents 276-201 (+75) in points-off-turnovers for a per-game average of 21.2 compared to 15.5 for the opposition.

THAT 70+ SHOW
Since the 2007-08 season, Quinnipiac is 123-15 (.891) in games wherein the Bobcats score 70 or more points, including a 13-1 mark in 2015-16 and 46-2 combined since 2014-15. During 2012-13 (18-0) and 2010-11 (8-0), the Bobcats rolled to undefeated records in each respective season when reaching the scoring plateau.

Quinnipiac's Record in Games Scoring 70+ Points Since 2007-08
Season                                                                 Record
2016-17 6-0
2015-16                                                                 13-1
2014-15                                                                 28-1
2013-14                                                                 14-6
2012-13                                                                 18-0
2011-12                                                                 9-3
2010-11                                                                 8-0
2009-10                                                                 5-2
2008-09                                                                 11-1
2007-08                                                                 11-1
Total (10 Seasons)                                                123-15 (.891)

BOY CAN THE BOBCATS PROTECT THE BALL
Even after the graduation of the program's all-time assists leader Gillian Abshire in 2015, Quinnipiac has prolonged their supreme proficiency with the ball. The Bobcats predicate smart passes and protecting the ball on offense and the stats certainly reflect that trend as Quinnipiac has produced a conference-leading assist/turnover ratio in four of the last five seasons while ranking Top 50 in the nation three times. Through 13 games in 2016-17, the pattern is already showing through as the Bobcats lead the MAAC and rank 78^th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (1.02).

Assist/Turnover Ratio Last Five Seasons
Season	Games	W-L	Ast	APG	TO	TPG	A/TO	NCAA Rank	Conf Rank
2012-13	33	30-3	557	16.9	477	14.5	1.17	10th	1st (NEC)
2013-14	34	21-13	554	16.3	446	13.1	1.24	20th	2nd (MAAC)
2014-15	35	31-4	685	19.6	465	13.3	1.47	5th	1st (MAAC)
2015-16	34	25-9	523	15.4	507	14.9	1.03	51st	2nd (MAAC)
2016-17	13	10-3	219	16.8	214	16.5	1.02	78th	1st (MAAC)
Total	149	117-32	2538	17.0	2109	14.2	1.20

RETURN OF THE GOLD RUSH
Injuries forced Quinnipiac out of their rotation but now back at full strength, Quinnipiac has utilized their "Gold Rush" subbing strategy to the fullest extent. In this approach first developed in the team's 30-3 season in 2012-13, Quinnipiac chooses to sub five players in-and-out of the game at a time throughout entire 40-minute contests. Since making the move back to the traditional approach, Quinnipiac is averaging 70.7 PPG while shooting 39.6 percent, dishing out 17.1 assists per game and totaling 13.0 steals per contest. Of the 10 consistent "Gold Rush" players, only one is averaging more than 22 MPG (Aryn McClure 23.1 MPG) while seven Bobcats are averaging at least 6.0 PPG. On the defensive end, Quinnipiac is holding opponents to just 61.2 PPG, 37.2 percent shooting, 28.4 percent from deep and just 119 assists to 241 turnovers for a miniscule 0.49 assist/turnover ratio.

BIG MAAC AWARD
Aryn McClure started the season taking home the league's first MAAC Player of the Week honor of 2016-17 as well as the first of her career. She also took home College Sports Madness' MAAC Player of the Week award, sweeping the week in what was a masterful performance from McClure over the 2-0 week. McClure started with her fifth career double-double with 14 points and 10 rebounds to go along with four assists and a career high five blocks in the win over FGCU. She followed that up with 12 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two blocks in the comeback win over Dayton, netting 11 of her 12 points in the second half.

PLAY4KAY RECAP
Quinnipiac closed its run in the inaugural Play4Kay Shootout with a third place finish and 2-1 record playing against one of the most talented in-season tournament fields the Bobcats have ever seen. In a field that included two nationally-ranked teams (Oregon State, South Florida) as well as high-major Oklahoma State and several consistent mid-major powers (UNLV, New Mexico State, Long Beach State, Santa Clara), Quinnipiac managed two thrilling victories and a closely played loss to No. 25/15 Oregon State. The Bobcats began the tournament with a 49-46 victory over preseason WAC favorite New Mexico State. In the second round, Quinnipiac trailed the nationally-ranked Beavers by just six points at the start of the fourth quarter before ultimately falling, 75-60. The third place game was an epic back-and-forth duel as Quinnipiac pulled out the 63-60 victory over Long Beach State, an opponent who had defeated nationally-ranked South Florida in the first round. Adily Martucci earned All-Tournament honors after leading the Bobcats with 26 points across the three-game tournament.

THE RAREST OF FEATS
In a 49-46 win over New Mexico State to open the Play4Kay Shootout, Quinnipiac accomplished a feat seen before just once in the program's all-time history. Scoring just 49 points and defeating the Aggies by three, for just the second time in program history and first in the Div. I era (since 1998-99), the Bobcats won a game in which they scored less than 50 points. Incredibly, the Bobcats' last victory coming with less than 50 points scored came in the program's first-ever game, a 48-34 win over Hartford back on Jan. 27, 1975 (1,117 games ago).

IN THEIR DEFENSE
Quinnipiac's stellar defensive play carried the Bobcats in a 49-46 win over New Mexico State in the Play4Kay Shootout. The 46 points scored for the Aggies is the lowest total for a Bobcat opponent since allowing Fairfield to score 43 back on Jan. 15, 2015 (60 games ago). Turnovers loomed large as New Mexico State was forced into 28 while dishing out just four assists (0.14 assist/turnover ratio). New Mexico State came in leading the WAC in assist/turnover ratio (0.96) and hadn't coughed the ball up that many times since committing 31 turnovers on Nov. 19, 2015.

WHAT A WIN!
Trailing 17 points with 14:30 remaining, the Bobcats gutted out the largest comeback in the program's Division I history as Quinnipiac came-from-behind to defeat fellow mid-major power Dayton, 63-60, in Ohio on Sunday, Nov. 13. The 17-point Quinnipiac comeback sets a new Div. I record, one better than a 16-point margin overcome in a 68-61 overtime win over Robert Morris back on Feb. 19, 2000.

TURNAROUND FOR THE AGES
Playing in front of a ravenous home fanbase of nearly 2,000 strong cheering for a Dayton team just two seasons removed from a run into the 2015 Elite Eight, the Bobcats were all but out of it trailing 46-29 with 4:30 left in the third quarter. After shooting a paltry 11-for-41 (26.8 percent) overall up to the 4:30 mark of the third quarter, Quinnipiac was nothing short of incredible for the final 14:30 of play. Led by the senior tandem of Morgan Manz and Adily Martucci, the Bobcats finished 13-of-26 (50 percent) in what amounted to a 20-point swing (34-14 run) to end the game.

RESUME BOOSTER
Quinnipiac opened 2016-17 with two of their most impressive wins in program history. Starting with a 66-56 win over perennial mid-major power Florida Gulf Coast, the Bobcats' 63-60 road win over Dayton comes against a Flyer team that had won six consecutive Atlantic-10 Championships from 2010-15. Between the Bobcats' first two opponents, Quinnipiac defeated a pair of teams that have combined for 453 wins (FGCU: 246-52; Dayton: 207-82), 50.3 wins per season (FGCU: 27.3; Dayton: 23), 77.1 winning percentage, 10 conference titles and five NCAA Tournament victories in the last nine seasons (since 2007-08).

MISSION COMPLETE
After a pair of thrilling meetings in the two seasons prior, the Bobcats finally broke through against Florida Gulf Coast as Quinnipiac dominated defensively in a 66-56 season-opening win at home over the fellow mid-major power. In a matchup pitting two programs ranked in the College Insider Mid-Major Poll, then-No. 13 Quinnipiac put on a defensive clinic in holding then-No. 7 FGCU to just 20-of-61 shooting from the floor and 12 percent (3-25 3FG) from three. Quinnipiac's defensive outing from the three-point line is commendable considering FGCU ranked sixth in the nation with 9.3 made three-pointers per game in 2015-16.

THE 2015-16 REGULAR SEASON
Quinnipiac finished 22-7 overall and 17-3 in league play to earn the 2015-16 MAAC Regular Season Championship and the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament. Quinnipiac clinched its second straight MAAC Regular Season title with a win over Iona in a winner-take-all regular season finale. The regular season title was the Bobcats' third in the four years dating back to the 2012-13 campaign where Quinnipiac was crowned the NEC Regular Season Champions. The Bobcats became just the second MAAC team, joining Marist in 2004-05, to start their conference schedule with three losses and win the remainder of their games to take home the MAAC Regular Season title outright. Quinnipiac entered the MAAC Tournament winners of 17 straight games which was the sixth-longest streak in the nation.

HIGH-POWERED OFFENSIVE ATTACK
Quinnipiac's coaching staff has long preached an up-tempo offensive system and the stats certainly reflect its success as the Bobcats have led their respective conference in scoring offense and assists in four of the last five seasons. Starting in the final two years of the Northeast Conference, Quinnipiac averaged an NEC-leading 67.9 points per game in 2011-12 and 70.5 PPG in 2012-13. That success carried over since joining the MAAC as the Bobcats ranked second in the league at 73.4 PPG in 2013-14 before leading the way again in 2014-15 with a league-record 78.5 PPG as well as 67.5 PPG in 2015-16. Over the last five seasons, Quinnipiac's cumulative scoring average is 71.6 PPG while the team dishes out 16.6 assists per game across the 168-game span.

Scoring Offense Last Five Seasons
Season	Games	W-L	Pts	PPG	Ast	APG
2011-12	32	22-10	2173	67.9	470	14.7
2012-13	33	30-3	2327	70.5	557	16.9
2013-14	34	21-13	2494	73.4	554	16.3
2014-15	35	31-4	2749	78.5	685	19.6
2015-16	34	25-9	2294	67.4	523	15.4
Total	168	129-39	12,037	71.6	2789	16.6