Friday, March 3
Times Union Center - Albany, NY
1:00 PM
Quinnipiac University
vs
Canisius
QU Women's Basketball Opens With #8 Canisius in MAAC Quarterfinals on Friday
3/2/2017 1:57:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Bobcats 9-0 All-Time Against Canisius; Swept Season Series (64-53 at CAN, 62-49 at QU)
2017 MAAC Quarterfinals
#1 Quinnipiac Bobcats (24-6, 17-3 MAAC) vs.
#8 Canisius Golden Griffins (10-20, 8-12 MAAC)
Date: Friday, March 3, 2017 | 1:00 PM
Location: Times Union Center | Albany, New York
All-Time Series vs. Canisius: Quinnipiac leads 9-0
Last Meeting: W, 62-49 (February 25, 2017 at QU)
Follow the Bobcats:
HERE. WE. GO!
The Quinnipiac University women's basketball team (24-6, 17-3 MAAC) opens the 2017 MAAC Tournament on Friday, March 3 in the quarterfinals against the No. 8 seed Canisius. The Bobcats earned the No. 1 seed and a first round bye. Quinnipiac has advanced to the MAAC title game in all three seasons and are 7-2 overall in MAAC Tournament play since joining the league in 2013-14.
THE SCHEDULE
Thursday, March 2, 2017 – MAAC First Round
Game 1: #8 Canisius vs. #9 Niagara CAN, 80-74 (OT)
Game 2: #7 Monmouth vs. #10 Manhattan MON, 62-46
Game 3: #6 Marist vs. #11 Saint Peter's MAR, 71-60
Friday, March 3, 2017 – MAAC Quarterfinals I
Game 4: #1 Quinnipiac vs. #8 Canisius 1:00 PM
Game 5: #2 Rider vs. #7 Monmouth 3:30 PM
Saturday, March 4, 2017 – MAAC Quarterfinals II
Game 6: #3 Fairfield vs. #6 Marist 12:00 PM
Game 7: #4 Siena vs. #5 Iona 2:30 PM
Sunday, March 5, 2017 – MAAC Semifinals (ESPN3)
Game 8: Winner of Gm. 4 vs. Winner of Gm. 5 11:00 AM
Game 9: Winner of Gm. 6 vs. Winner of Gm. 7 1:30 PM
Monday, March 6, 2017 – MAAC Championship (ESPNU)
Game 10: Winner of Gm. 8 vs. Winner of Gm. 9 5:00 PM
THE TOURNAMENT
The 2017 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament is held March 2-6 at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. The winner of the tournament receives the conference's automatic bid into the 2017 NCAA Tournament. The regular season champion receives an automatic bid into the 2016 WNIT Tournament if they do not win the tournament.
ESPN FAMILY OF NETWORKS
Courtesy of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), several of the tournament's games can be seen nationally on the ESPN family of networks. The MAAC's 2016-17 men's and women's basketball broadcast schedule featured upwards to 40 contests during the regular season and an additional 10 more through the 2016 MAAC Championships. The championship game will be televised nationally on ESPNU while the semifinal round can be seen on ESPN3.
THE 2016-17 SEASON
Quinnipiac finished 24-6 overall and 17-3 in league play to earn the 2016-17 MAAC Regular Season Championship and the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament. Quinnipiac clinched its third straight MAAC Regular Season title, winning seven straight games down the stretch to edge out Rider (16-4 MAAC) for the top spot in the standings. The regular season title is the Bobcats' fourth in the five years dating back to the 2012-13 campaign where Quinnipiac was crowned the NEC Regular Season Champions. The Bobcats join a list of 12 programs across the nation to have won at least three straight conference regular season titles while Quinnipiac has dominated the MAAC with a mark of 54-6 (.900) in league games since 2014-15. Earlier this season, the Bobcats clinched their sixth straight 20-win season, an accomplishment only 19 teams in the nation can currently boast.
QUINNIPIAC IN THE POSTSEASON
Quinnipiac enters the 2017 MAAC tournament seeking a fourth straight MAAC Championship game appearance while the Bobcats are trying to capture their third conference title in the last five seasons. The Bobcats claimed the 2013 NEC Tournament title after an undefeated (18-0) run through league play and in 2015 the Bobcats rolled through the MAAC eventually winning the 2015 MAAC Championship while going undefeated (20-0) through league play. Last season, Quinnipiac won 19 straight games before being bounced in the MAAC title game to Iona, 58-44, suffering a back-breaking injury to Maria Napolitano in the semifinal win over Monmouth. Moving to the MAAC in 2013-14, Quinnipiac upset No. 1 seed Iona on their way to an appearance in the 2014 MAAC Championship game. Quinnipiac has made a trip to conference championship game five straight seasons and owns an all-time record of 17-15 in conference tournament games (7-2 since joining the MAAC).
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GRIFFINS
ALL-TIME AGAINST CANISIUS
BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK
Quinnipiac's domination of the MAAC continued in 2016-17 as the Bobcats claimed a third straight MAAC Regular Season Championship with the top record in conference play at 17-3. Owning a 54-6 (.900) mark against MAAC competition over the last three seasons, including an undefeated 20-0 conference season in 2014-15, the Bobcats have dominated the league since joining in 2013-14. Now in exclusive company, Quinnipiac is one of just 13 programs in the nation (UConn, George Washington, Notre Dame, Baylor, DePaul, Maryland, Green Bay, Colorado State, Oregon State, South Carolina, Chattanooga and New Mexico State) to win back-to-back-to-back regular season titles.
DEFENSE LOOKING GOOD
Quinnipiac's defense has led the MAAC all season as the Bobcats are allowing 55.9 points per game (23rd-best mark in the nation). If that average were to stand through the end of the season, that would signal a new program record for fewest points allowed per game in a single-season. Quinnipiac has allowed fewer than 60 points per game just three times in Div. I history (2015-16 – 58.7, 2012-13 – 57.4, 2007-08 – 58.7). In MAAC-only games, Quinnipiac allowed a miniscule 53.3 PPG while opponents are shooting just 35.3 percent from the floor in conference play, both standards that currently lead the MAAC. For the season, Quinnipiac is allowing opponents to shoot 35.6 percent (21st-best in the nation) while also ranking eighth in the nation in steals per game (11.8). Allowing 0.752 points per possession (best in the MAAC), Quinnipiac allowed over 70 points to a MAAC opponent just once in 20 conference games.
SEVEN-FOR-ALL
Quinnipiac has broken out of the two-game losing streak and turned into a simply dominant team in the recent seven-game win streak. In that span, Quinnipiac scrapped the five-in, five-out "Gold Rush" subbing pattern and is now averaging 69.0 PPG (40.6 FG%) while outscoring the opposition by an average margin of +19.0. The most noteworthy stat in that span is from the three-point line as the Bobcats are hitting 36.8 percent (60-163 3FG) from behind the arc during the win streak after shooting a MAAC-low 27.9 percent (144-517 3FG) from three in the first 23 games of the season. Adily Martucci has taken over in the streak as well, averaging 12.4 PPG while Aryn McClure with her for the team-lead in that span at 12.4 PPG.
HITTING THAT MAGIC NUMBER
Quinnipiac's 76-60 win over Siena (2/12) clinched yet another 20-win campaign for Head Coach Tricia Fabbri. The 11th 20-win season in program history made it six in-a-row as well as the eighth in Fabbri's 22-year coaching career at Quinnipiac. Currently, Quinnipiac is one of just 19 teams across the nation and one of just four mid-major programs. Over the last six seasons, Quinnipiac stands with a record of 153-45 for a .773 win percentage which ranks as the 16th-best overall mark in the nation.
RPI REPORT
Through 30 games in 2016-17, Quinnipiac continues to get tons of respect in the RPI ranking list as the Bobcats check in at No. 42 in the most-recent report. Out of the 42 teams ranked ahead of Quinnipiac, 35 of those are high-major programs as the Bobcats are seventh-highest among mid-majors. Quinnipiac also owns easily the highest RPI among MAAC teams as the next-closest squad Rider comes in ranked No. 120 while Iona is third at No. 153 (349 teams ranked).
SHAKING OFF THE STREAK
Quinnipiac broke through a two-game losing streak, defeating Monmouth at home, 74-54, on Saturday. Since joining the MAAC in 2013-14, Quinnipiac is unaccustomed to losing streaks as the Bobcats have experienced a losing streak of two or more games just three times now in the last four seasons (80 MAAC games). Quinnipiac went undefeated (20-0) in 2014-15 and also ripped off a 17-game MAAC winning streak in 2015-16 (both of which ended with MAAC Regular Season titles). During 2013-14, Quinnipiac did suffer back-to-back losses to Fairfield and Iona but that and the three-game losing streak from last season are the only two spans (other than the two-game skid from this season) in which the Bobcats have lost two straight in MAAC play.
MAAC WIN STREAK
Quinnipiac saw its streak of 25 consecutive MAAC conference victories end in a 61-58 loss at Monmouth (1/19). An impressive streak nevertheless, the Bobcats strung together 17 straight wins to end the 2015-16 regular season and eight straight to open the 2016-17 season. That dominance is rivaled in recent time only by Marist who put together a 30-game unbeaten streak in the MAAC regular season that stretched from 2011-12 to an undefeated 18-0 record in 2012-13 and ending in 2013-14.
BIG MOVERS IN THE MAAC
Since joining the MAAC in 2013-14, Quinnipiac has reeled off a record of 75-14 (.842) in all games against MAAC opponents and 68-12 (.850) in regular season MAAC games, both records that currently lead all teams in the conference. The Bobcats rank well ahead of Iona who sits with the second-best mark of 62-24 (.721) in games against conference foes over the last four seasons and stand 58-22 (.725) in regular season MAAC play.
TOP SPOT IN THE MAAC
Through 30 games this season, Quinnipiac holds the lead in nine different statistical categories while the Bobcats are ranked no worse than third out of 11 MAAC teams in 18 out of 21 major team statistics. Quinnipiac leads the MAAC in scoring offense (68.1), scoring defense (55.9), scoring margin (+12.1), field goal percentage defense (35.6), blocked shots (5.0), assists (16.4), steals (11.8), turnover margin (+6.17) and assist/turnover ratio (1.10).
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 64-7 (.901) in games played at home. In just the last three seasons (since 2014-15), Quinnipiac owns a mark of 39-3 (.929). That mark easily ranks as the best in the MAAC while it also places them with the 10th-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.
GOTTA LOVE THAT HOME COOKIN
Quinnipiac's extended home dominance is particularly impressive when looking at games against MAAC opponents as the Bobcats stand with a mark of 36-4 (.900) at home in league games since joining the conference in 2013-14. That prominence is only magnified when looking at the last three seasons as the Bobcats are 29-1 (.967) at the TD Bank Sports Center in conference games since 2014-15 and are currently riding a 19-game unbeaten streak in home games against MAAC foes.
THE ULTIMATE CLOSERS
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. Overall, however, the Bobcats are 19-2 in the 2016-17 season to give Quinnipiac a mark of 64-2 (.970) since the start of 2014-15 in games in which Quinnipiac leads at the half.
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 +185 advantage (+6.17 per game; 14th in the nation) in turnover margin. The Bobcats have turned the ball over just 446 times while forcing the opposition into 631 turnovers (21.0 per game) which ranks 13th in the nation. Just 12 of the Bobcats' 30 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 30 opponents 596-383 (+213) in points-off-turnovers for a per-game average of 19.9 compared to 12.8 for the opposition.
THAT 70+ SHOW
Since the 2007-08 season, Quinnipiac is 131-15 (.897) in games wherein the Bobcats score 70 or more points, including a 13-1 mark in 2015-16 and 55-2 (.965) 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 14-0
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) 131-15 (.897)
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 30 games in 2016-17, the pattern is already showing through as the Bobcats lead the MAAC and rank 54th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (1.10).
WAR OF ATTRITION
Quinnipiac has outscored the opposition 2042-1678 (+364, +12.1 per game) this season but a closer look at the box scores will show the Bobcats' depth has played a large role in the points discrepancy. The Bobcats have outscored opponents combined through 30 games in every quarter but in the second (473-340, +133), third (554-442, +112) and fourth (559-467, +92) quarters are where the advantages really jump out compared to the first stanza (456-429, +27). Leaning on 10+ players per game and a frenetic offensive pace helps lead to the massive advantages in the second stage of each half.
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 nine different players post a single-game team-leading scoring total on the season, easily the most in the conference. Another key note is the Bobcats lead the MAAC in scoring offense (68.1 and have the second-fewest 10+ PPG scorers in the conference as Jen Fay (10.2) and Adily Martucci (10.1) are the lone Quinnipiac players averaging double figures in points. Saint Peter's is the only team in the MAAC to have a just one player averaging 10+ PPG.
PUTTING IN A GOOD FAY'S WORK
Jen Fay's return to the court in 2016-17 after a missed 2015-16 season has provided a huge boost to the Bobcats as she leads the team in scoring (10.2 PPG). Credit Fay's production in MAAC play as a leading indication to her spike in scoring as she led the team averaging 10.9 points in 21.1 minutes per contest through 20 conference games. Fay is shooting 47.2 percent (77-163 FG) overall and 37.9 percent (25-66 3FG) from three. She posted 12 double digit outings in 20 league games and scored at least seven points in all but one MAAC contest this season.
PAULA POWERING THROUGH THE MAAC
The opening of conference play has marked the beginning of Paula Strautmane's dominance this season as the sophomore averaged 9.4 points (40.8 FG%), 6.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.3 blocks in 19.8 minutes over 18 league appearances (missed final two MAAC games due to injury). Her production in the conference was a big key to success as she has compiled nine of her 12 double digit scoring games on the season in MAAC play. Strautmane has also done a much better job controlling her foul trouble as she averaged 3.7 fouls per game in 10 non-conference games but has lowered that average to 2.9 fouls per game in 18 conference games.
PAULA = PIVITAL PLAYER
The play of Paula Strautmane has been one of the biggest indicators to the Bobcats' team success this season. In the 24 games the Bobcats have won this season, Strautmane averages 9.8 PPG (44.2 FG%, 75.0 FT%), 5.9 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.9 SPG and 1.6 BPG in 19.9 MPG. Compare those stats to Strautmane's averages in the six Bobcat losses, 3.8 PPG (18.4 FG%, 66.7 FT%), 4.7 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.7 SPG and 0.3 BPG, and the difference is clear. Strautmane is third behind Jen Fay and Adily Martucci with 13 double digit scoring outputs this season and the Bobcats own a mark of 12-1 (.923) in those 13 contests.
POINTS FOR HER ARE A SHEWAN
Sarah Shewan is beginning to find her niche on the offensive end across the Bobcats' seven-game win streak as she is posting 10.7 PPG while shooting 41.8 percent (23-55 FG) from the floor, 36.8 percent (7-19 3FG) from three and 88 percent (22-25 FT) from the free throw line while adding 6.9 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game. Within the seven-game win streak, Shewan has tallied five of her nine double digit scoring games on the season while her field goal percentage has improved drastically from where it stood through the first 23 games of the season (32.1 FG%, 50-156 FG).
DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Sarah Shewan has picked up her play considerably in the win streak and even more in the two most-recent games. After posting just one double-double in her first 98 career appearances, Shewan has gone off for back-to-back double-doubles in wins over Marist (10 points, career high 14 rebounds) and Canisius (16 points, 12 rebounds) to finish the regular season. Out of Shewan's 26 rebounds (13 RPG) in that span, 15 came on the offensive end as she comes into postseason play averaging 7.5 offensive rebounds in the last two games.
MARTUCCI MAKING HER MARK
Adily Martucci posted another strong performance with 11 points while adding three rebounds and two steals in a road win over Marist (2/23). Martucci has been a key player in the recent six-game win streak as she is averaging 12.4 PPG while reaching the 10-point plateau six times in the stretch. Martucci's team-leading 16th double-digit outing of the season continues a season-long trend that has the guard producing career highs in scoring (10.1 PPG), free throw percentage (88.9) and steals (1.7).
FABBRI FINDING HER WAY
Coming off a breakout 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 6.0 PPG on a much-improved 39.7 percent (25-63 3FG) shooting from long range in the last 20 games. With just four three-point makes through the opening 10 games, Fabbri has since made 25 over the last 20 games alone.
ALL-AROUND ARYN
Aryn McClure's all-around play has been one of the keys behind the Bobcats' success as she comes in with averages of 8.3 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.7 BPG and 1.6 SPG. The 2015-16 MAAC Rookie of the Year is having another solid season in multiple statistical categories as she leads the Bobcats in rebounds (183), assists (84) and blocks (50). Of all the players in the MAAC, McClure is the only one leading her respective team in all three aforementioned categories.
FINDING HER IRISH GROOVE
Edel Thornton has picked up the pace and carved out a larger role as the sophomore point guard is averaging 4.9 PPG while shooting a team-leading 50 percent (16-32 FG) from the floor and 40.9 percent (9-22 3FG) from behind the arc. Leading the team in both shooting categories, Thornton has also dished out 26 assists against just 15 turnovers (1.73 assist/turnover ratio) in those 10 contests as she ranks second behind McClure in assists over the stretch.
McCLURE'S MOMENT
A key lynchpin in two dominating wins over Marist (79-57) and Siena (76-60), Aryn McClure picked up her second MAAC Player of the Week honor of the season last Monday. The sophomore dominated early and often, notching consecutive season high point totals as she scored 16 against Marist and went for 21 in the win over Siena. Averaging 18.5 points over the 2-0 week, McClure was efficient from the floor going 16-for-33 (48.5 percent) overall while hitting on the first three-pointer of her career (missed first 22 career attempts). Her primetime performance came in the win over Siena as she tallied 13 of her 21 points in the fourth quarter as she scored 13 of the Bobcats' 16 points in a span of 6:33 in the final quarter.
BIG NIGHT FOR SHEWAN
Sarah Shewan had herself a night against No. 25/15 Oregon State as she came up with 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. 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 averaged a team-leading 13.3 points per game while shooting 43.8 percent (14-32 FG) in the three games the Bobcats 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 nine double digit point performances.
SHE GOT GAME
Jen Fay continues to dominate on the offensive end for the Bobcats as she tallied 14 points (5-7 FG, 4-6 3FG) in a 79-57 win over Marist. After scoring 10+ points just once in her freshman season, Fay has notched a team-leading 15 double digit outings for the Bobcats. In those 15 games, Fay is averaging 13.8 PPG while shooting a blistering 51.7 percent (75-145 FG) overall, 39.1 percent (25-64 3FG) from behind the arc and 84.2 percent (32-38 FT) from the charity stripe.
FRESHMAN FITS RIGHT IN
Given a chance at more playing time thanks to injuries in the normal Gold Rush rotation, freshman Vanessa Udoji has responded with solid outings in the 10 games in which she plays at least 10 minutes. Starting with a season high 16 points (4-7 FG, 2-5 3FG, 6-6 FT) and seven rebounds at Saint Peter's (12/1), Udoji followed that up with 13 points (6-9 FG) and five steals against Siena (12/6). A recent outing saw her finish with a solid all-around line of 12 points and four rebounds against Rider. In the 10 games where Udoji has played at least 10 minutes the rookie is averaging 7.0 PPG (41.3 FG%, 90.0 FT%), 3.0 RPG and 1.2 SPG in 16.4 MPG.
TURNING THE PAIGE
Another rookie deserving of praise for making the most of her opportunity is Paige Warfel as the freshman forward has excelled in her two games with more than 10 minutes played this season. With injuries in the consistent Gold Rush rotation, Warfel was given the chance to play major minutes in two games and she responded with 11 points (3-7 FG, 5-7 FT), seven rebounds and three steals in 19 minutes at Saint Peter's (12/1). She came back and tallied nine points (9-10 FT) with three rebounds and two steals in 20 minutes against the Peacocks at home (1/2). In those two games of significant minutes (15+), Warfel averaged 10.0 PPG (37.5 FG%, 91.7 FT%), 5.0 RPG (all offensive) and 2.5 SPG in 19.5 MPG. For the season, Warfel has grabbed 23 total rebounds, 17 of which (73.9 percent) have come on the offensive end.
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 career 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).
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.
#1 Quinnipiac Bobcats (24-6, 17-3 MAAC) vs.
#8 Canisius Golden Griffins (10-20, 8-12 MAAC)
Date: Friday, March 3, 2017 | 1:00 PM
Location: Times Union Center | Albany, New York
All-Time Series vs. Canisius: Quinnipiac leads 9-0
Last Meeting: W, 62-49 (February 25, 2017 at QU)
Follow the Bobcats:
- LIVE VIDEO
- LIVE STATS
- LIVE AUDIO (WQUN) (Bill Schweizer, play-by-play; Billy Mecca & Bob Tipson, color)
- Quinnipiac Women's Basketball MAAC Postseason Guide
- GAME NOTES: Quinnipiac | Canisius
- FOLLOW ON TWITTER
HERE. WE. GO!
The Quinnipiac University women's basketball team (24-6, 17-3 MAAC) opens the 2017 MAAC Tournament on Friday, March 3 in the quarterfinals against the No. 8 seed Canisius. The Bobcats earned the No. 1 seed and a first round bye. Quinnipiac has advanced to the MAAC title game in all three seasons and are 7-2 overall in MAAC Tournament play since joining the league in 2013-14.
THE SCHEDULE
Thursday, March 2, 2017 – MAAC First Round
Game 1: #8 Canisius vs. #9 Niagara CAN, 80-74 (OT)
Game 2: #7 Monmouth vs. #10 Manhattan MON, 62-46
Game 3: #6 Marist vs. #11 Saint Peter's MAR, 71-60
Friday, March 3, 2017 – MAAC Quarterfinals I
Game 4: #1 Quinnipiac vs. #8 Canisius 1:00 PM
Game 5: #2 Rider vs. #7 Monmouth 3:30 PM
Saturday, March 4, 2017 – MAAC Quarterfinals II
Game 6: #3 Fairfield vs. #6 Marist 12:00 PM
Game 7: #4 Siena vs. #5 Iona 2:30 PM
Sunday, March 5, 2017 – MAAC Semifinals (ESPN3)
Game 8: Winner of Gm. 4 vs. Winner of Gm. 5 11:00 AM
Game 9: Winner of Gm. 6 vs. Winner of Gm. 7 1:30 PM
Monday, March 6, 2017 – MAAC Championship (ESPNU)
Game 10: Winner of Gm. 8 vs. Winner of Gm. 9 5:00 PM
THE TOURNAMENT
The 2017 Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Women's Basketball Tournament is held March 2-6 at the Times Union Center in Albany, N.Y. The winner of the tournament receives the conference's automatic bid into the 2017 NCAA Tournament. The regular season champion receives an automatic bid into the 2016 WNIT Tournament if they do not win the tournament.
ESPN FAMILY OF NETWORKS
Courtesy of the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC), several of the tournament's games can be seen nationally on the ESPN family of networks. The MAAC's 2016-17 men's and women's basketball broadcast schedule featured upwards to 40 contests during the regular season and an additional 10 more through the 2016 MAAC Championships. The championship game will be televised nationally on ESPNU while the semifinal round can be seen on ESPN3.
THE 2016-17 SEASON
Quinnipiac finished 24-6 overall and 17-3 in league play to earn the 2016-17 MAAC Regular Season Championship and the No. 1 overall seed in the tournament. Quinnipiac clinched its third straight MAAC Regular Season title, winning seven straight games down the stretch to edge out Rider (16-4 MAAC) for the top spot in the standings. The regular season title is the Bobcats' fourth in the five years dating back to the 2012-13 campaign where Quinnipiac was crowned the NEC Regular Season Champions. The Bobcats join a list of 12 programs across the nation to have won at least three straight conference regular season titles while Quinnipiac has dominated the MAAC with a mark of 54-6 (.900) in league games since 2014-15. Earlier this season, the Bobcats clinched their sixth straight 20-win season, an accomplishment only 19 teams in the nation can currently boast.
QUINNIPIAC IN THE POSTSEASON
Quinnipiac enters the 2017 MAAC tournament seeking a fourth straight MAAC Championship game appearance while the Bobcats are trying to capture their third conference title in the last five seasons. The Bobcats claimed the 2013 NEC Tournament title after an undefeated (18-0) run through league play and in 2015 the Bobcats rolled through the MAAC eventually winning the 2015 MAAC Championship while going undefeated (20-0) through league play. Last season, Quinnipiac won 19 straight games before being bounced in the MAAC title game to Iona, 58-44, suffering a back-breaking injury to Maria Napolitano in the semifinal win over Monmouth. Moving to the MAAC in 2013-14, Quinnipiac upset No. 1 seed Iona on their way to an appearance in the 2014 MAAC Championship game. Quinnipiac has made a trip to conference championship game five straight seasons and owns an all-time record of 17-15 in conference tournament games (7-2 since joining the MAAC).
SCOUTING THE GOLDEN GRIFFINS
- Canisius (10-20, 8-12 MAAC) has experienced an up-and-down season as Canisius went nearly two months without winning or losing more than two straight games
- The Golden Griffins advanced to the quarterfinal round following a thrilling 80-74 overtime win over crosstown rival Niagara on Thursday morning
- Canisius had to overcome a game-tying buzzer-beating three-pointer from Niagara's Tiffany Corselli at the end of regulation but the Golden Griffins outscored the Purple Eagles, 11-5, in overtime to claim the six-point victory
- Maria Welch exploded for 25 points (7-14 FG, 5-7 3FG) while Lauren D'Hont added 20 points (10-14 FG) in the first round win over Niagara
- Canisius prefers to play in the halfcourt as the Golden Griffins rank ninth in the MAAC in scoring (58.6 PPG) but shoot at a good rate (40.1 FG%) which ranks third-best in the league
- Rebounding is a big weakness for the Golden Griffins as Canisius sits last in the MAAC in both rebounds per game (32.1) and rebounding margin (-5.7)
- In MAAC-only games, Canisius sits ninth in scoring offense (57.8 PPG) but does pose a good defense allowing 59.8 points per game (5th MAAC)
- The Golden Griffins again shoot at a very high clip in conference games (41.0 FG%, 2nd MAAC) while holding opponents to just 36.8 percent shooting (2nd in the MAAC) while their three-point percentage defense (27.6) is also second in the conference
- Sara Hinriksdottir is in the midst of a breakout sophomore campaign, ranking sixth in the MAAC in scoring (15.4 PPG) while shooting at a high clip (46.6 FG%, 9th MAAC) and adding 6.3 rebounds per game (tied for 13th MAAC)
- Hinriksdottir prefers to attack the rim but she can pull up and shoot the three-ball at a great rate (37.2 3FG%) which ranks seventh in the league
- Lauren D'Hont joins Hinriksdottir averaging double figures as she posts 10.3 PPG (45.8 FG%)
- Margaret Halfdanardottir is a solid hall-handler as a combo guard, averaging 9.1 PPG (45.9 FG%, 38.0 3FG%) while Maria Welch is a three-point threat coming in with 36 made three-pointers and a 7.8 PPG average
ALL-TIME AGAINST CANISIUS
- Quinnipiac has never lost to the Golden Griffins in nine all-time meetings
- These two sides met on Saturday in the regular season finale for both teams with the Bobcats claiming the 62-49 win in a game dominated by both defenses
- Quinnipiac forced 18 Canisius turnovers in that matchup while holding the Golden Griffins to just 3-for-10 from behind the three-point arc
- In a game that featured 12 ties and 10 lead changes, the Bobcats eventually pulled away from Canisius in the fourth quarter to claim a 64-53 road win in early January this season
- Both meetings last season were relatively close as the Bobcats won 63-54 at home and 80-68 on the road against the Golden Griffins
- McClure went for 10 points and 15 rebounds in the meeting at home while she came back with an impressive 19 points, eight rebounds and eight assists in 30 minutes as she dominated the matchup on the road
- The two sides met once in the MAAC Tournament as the Bobcats scored a 72-61 victory in the 2014 MAAC Quarterfinals held in Springfield, Mass.
- In the 2014-15 season that saw the Bobcats win 31 games, Quinnipiac had their fair share of difficulty with Canisius as the Golden Griffins came closer than any team did to knocking off the Bobcats on their home floor
- Quinnipiac needed a last-second buzzer-beating three from Jasmine Martin to send the game into overtime before ultimately defeating the Golden Griffins, 88-85, in a thrilling game that saw Canisius shoot a blistering 72 percent (18-25 FG) from the floor in the second half
BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK
Quinnipiac's domination of the MAAC continued in 2016-17 as the Bobcats claimed a third straight MAAC Regular Season Championship with the top record in conference play at 17-3. Owning a 54-6 (.900) mark against MAAC competition over the last three seasons, including an undefeated 20-0 conference season in 2014-15, the Bobcats have dominated the league since joining in 2013-14. Now in exclusive company, Quinnipiac is one of just 13 programs in the nation (UConn, George Washington, Notre Dame, Baylor, DePaul, Maryland, Green Bay, Colorado State, Oregon State, South Carolina, Chattanooga and New Mexico State) to win back-to-back-to-back regular season titles.
DEFENSE LOOKING GOOD
Quinnipiac's defense has led the MAAC all season as the Bobcats are allowing 55.9 points per game (23rd-best mark in the nation). If that average were to stand through the end of the season, that would signal a new program record for fewest points allowed per game in a single-season. Quinnipiac has allowed fewer than 60 points per game just three times in Div. I history (2015-16 – 58.7, 2012-13 – 57.4, 2007-08 – 58.7). In MAAC-only games, Quinnipiac allowed a miniscule 53.3 PPG while opponents are shooting just 35.3 percent from the floor in conference play, both standards that currently lead the MAAC. For the season, Quinnipiac is allowing opponents to shoot 35.6 percent (21st-best in the nation) while also ranking eighth in the nation in steals per game (11.8). Allowing 0.752 points per possession (best in the MAAC), Quinnipiac allowed over 70 points to a MAAC opponent just once in 20 conference games.
SEVEN-FOR-ALL
Quinnipiac has broken out of the two-game losing streak and turned into a simply dominant team in the recent seven-game win streak. In that span, Quinnipiac scrapped the five-in, five-out "Gold Rush" subbing pattern and is now averaging 69.0 PPG (40.6 FG%) while outscoring the opposition by an average margin of +19.0. The most noteworthy stat in that span is from the three-point line as the Bobcats are hitting 36.8 percent (60-163 3FG) from behind the arc during the win streak after shooting a MAAC-low 27.9 percent (144-517 3FG) from three in the first 23 games of the season. Adily Martucci has taken over in the streak as well, averaging 12.4 PPG while Aryn McClure with her for the team-lead in that span at 12.4 PPG.
HITTING THAT MAGIC NUMBER
Quinnipiac's 76-60 win over Siena (2/12) clinched yet another 20-win campaign for Head Coach Tricia Fabbri. The 11th 20-win season in program history made it six in-a-row as well as the eighth in Fabbri's 22-year coaching career at Quinnipiac. Currently, Quinnipiac is one of just 19 teams across the nation and one of just four mid-major programs. Over the last six seasons, Quinnipiac stands with a record of 153-45 for a .773 win percentage which ranks as the 16th-best overall mark in the nation.
RPI REPORT
Through 30 games in 2016-17, Quinnipiac continues to get tons of respect in the RPI ranking list as the Bobcats check in at No. 42 in the most-recent report. Out of the 42 teams ranked ahead of Quinnipiac, 35 of those are high-major programs as the Bobcats are seventh-highest among mid-majors. Quinnipiac also owns easily the highest RPI among MAAC teams as the next-closest squad Rider comes in ranked No. 120 while Iona is third at No. 153 (349 teams ranked).
SHAKING OFF THE STREAK
Quinnipiac broke through a two-game losing streak, defeating Monmouth at home, 74-54, on Saturday. Since joining the MAAC in 2013-14, Quinnipiac is unaccustomed to losing streaks as the Bobcats have experienced a losing streak of two or more games just three times now in the last four seasons (80 MAAC games). Quinnipiac went undefeated (20-0) in 2014-15 and also ripped off a 17-game MAAC winning streak in 2015-16 (both of which ended with MAAC Regular Season titles). During 2013-14, Quinnipiac did suffer back-to-back losses to Fairfield and Iona but that and the three-game losing streak from last season are the only two spans (other than the two-game skid from this season) in which the Bobcats have lost two straight in MAAC play.
MAAC WIN STREAK
Quinnipiac saw its streak of 25 consecutive MAAC conference victories end in a 61-58 loss at Monmouth (1/19). An impressive streak nevertheless, the Bobcats strung together 17 straight wins to end the 2015-16 regular season and eight straight to open the 2016-17 season. That dominance is rivaled in recent time only by Marist who put together a 30-game unbeaten streak in the MAAC regular season that stretched from 2011-12 to an undefeated 18-0 record in 2012-13 and ending in 2013-14.
BIG MOVERS IN THE MAAC
Since joining the MAAC in 2013-14, Quinnipiac has reeled off a record of 75-14 (.842) in all games against MAAC opponents and 68-12 (.850) in regular season MAAC games, both records that currently lead all teams in the conference. The Bobcats rank well ahead of Iona who sits with the second-best mark of 62-24 (.721) in games against conference foes over the last four seasons and stand 58-22 (.725) in regular season MAAC play.
TOP SPOT IN THE MAAC
Through 30 games this season, Quinnipiac holds the lead in nine different statistical categories while the Bobcats are ranked no worse than third out of 11 MAAC teams in 18 out of 21 major team statistics. Quinnipiac leads the MAAC in scoring offense (68.1), scoring defense (55.9), scoring margin (+12.1), field goal percentage defense (35.6), blocked shots (5.0), assists (16.4), steals (11.8), turnover margin (+6.17) and assist/turnover ratio (1.10).
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 64-7 (.901) in games played at home. In just the last three seasons (since 2014-15), Quinnipiac owns a mark of 39-3 (.929). That mark easily ranks as the best in the MAAC while it also places them with the 10th-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.
GOTTA LOVE THAT HOME COOKIN
Quinnipiac's extended home dominance is particularly impressive when looking at games against MAAC opponents as the Bobcats stand with a mark of 36-4 (.900) at home in league games since joining the conference in 2013-14. That prominence is only magnified when looking at the last three seasons as the Bobcats are 29-1 (.967) at the TD Bank Sports Center in conference games since 2014-15 and are currently riding a 19-game unbeaten streak in home games against MAAC foes.
THE ULTIMATE CLOSERS
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. Overall, however, the Bobcats are 19-2 in the 2016-17 season to give Quinnipiac a mark of 64-2 (.970) since the start of 2014-15 in games in which Quinnipiac leads at the half.
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 +185 advantage (+6.17 per game; 14th in the nation) in turnover margin. The Bobcats have turned the ball over just 446 times while forcing the opposition into 631 turnovers (21.0 per game) which ranks 13th in the nation. Just 12 of the Bobcats' 30 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 30 opponents 596-383 (+213) in points-off-turnovers for a per-game average of 19.9 compared to 12.8 for the opposition.
THAT 70+ SHOW
Since the 2007-08 season, Quinnipiac is 131-15 (.897) in games wherein the Bobcats score 70 or more points, including a 13-1 mark in 2015-16 and 55-2 (.965) 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 14-0
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) 131-15 (.897)
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 30 games in 2016-17, the pattern is already showing through as the Bobcats lead the MAAC and rank 54th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (1.10).
| 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 | 30 | 24-6 | 492 | 16.4 | 446 | 14.9 | 1.10 | 54th | 1st (MAAC) |
| Total | 166 | 131-35 | 2811 | 16.9 | 2341 | 14.1 | 1.20 | ||
WAR OF ATTRITION
Quinnipiac has outscored the opposition 2042-1678 (+364, +12.1 per game) this season but a closer look at the box scores will show the Bobcats' depth has played a large role in the points discrepancy. The Bobcats have outscored opponents combined through 30 games in every quarter but in the second (473-340, +133), third (554-442, +112) and fourth (559-467, +92) quarters are where the advantages really jump out compared to the first stanza (456-429, +27). Leaning on 10+ players per game and a frenetic offensive pace helps lead to the massive advantages in the second stage of each half.
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 nine different players post a single-game team-leading scoring total on the season, easily the most in the conference. Another key note is the Bobcats lead the MAAC in scoring offense (68.1 and have the second-fewest 10+ PPG scorers in the conference as Jen Fay (10.2) and Adily Martucci (10.1) are the lone Quinnipiac players averaging double figures in points. Saint Peter's is the only team in the MAAC to have a just one player averaging 10+ PPG.
PUTTING IN A GOOD FAY'S WORK
Jen Fay's return to the court in 2016-17 after a missed 2015-16 season has provided a huge boost to the Bobcats as she leads the team in scoring (10.2 PPG). Credit Fay's production in MAAC play as a leading indication to her spike in scoring as she led the team averaging 10.9 points in 21.1 minutes per contest through 20 conference games. Fay is shooting 47.2 percent (77-163 FG) overall and 37.9 percent (25-66 3FG) from three. She posted 12 double digit outings in 20 league games and scored at least seven points in all but one MAAC contest this season.
PAULA POWERING THROUGH THE MAAC
The opening of conference play has marked the beginning of Paula Strautmane's dominance this season as the sophomore averaged 9.4 points (40.8 FG%), 6.2 rebounds, 1.9 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.3 blocks in 19.8 minutes over 18 league appearances (missed final two MAAC games due to injury). Her production in the conference was a big key to success as she has compiled nine of her 12 double digit scoring games on the season in MAAC play. Strautmane has also done a much better job controlling her foul trouble as she averaged 3.7 fouls per game in 10 non-conference games but has lowered that average to 2.9 fouls per game in 18 conference games.
PAULA = PIVITAL PLAYER
The play of Paula Strautmane has been one of the biggest indicators to the Bobcats' team success this season. In the 24 games the Bobcats have won this season, Strautmane averages 9.8 PPG (44.2 FG%, 75.0 FT%), 5.9 RPG, 2.2 APG, 1.9 SPG and 1.6 BPG in 19.9 MPG. Compare those stats to Strautmane's averages in the six Bobcat losses, 3.8 PPG (18.4 FG%, 66.7 FT%), 4.7 RPG, 1.2 APG, 0.7 SPG and 0.3 BPG, and the difference is clear. Strautmane is third behind Jen Fay and Adily Martucci with 13 double digit scoring outputs this season and the Bobcats own a mark of 12-1 (.923) in those 13 contests.
POINTS FOR HER ARE A SHEWAN
Sarah Shewan is beginning to find her niche on the offensive end across the Bobcats' seven-game win streak as she is posting 10.7 PPG while shooting 41.8 percent (23-55 FG) from the floor, 36.8 percent (7-19 3FG) from three and 88 percent (22-25 FT) from the free throw line while adding 6.9 rebounds in 20.6 minutes per game. Within the seven-game win streak, Shewan has tallied five of her nine double digit scoring games on the season while her field goal percentage has improved drastically from where it stood through the first 23 games of the season (32.1 FG%, 50-156 FG).
DOUBLE-DOUBLE MACHINE
Sarah Shewan has picked up her play considerably in the win streak and even more in the two most-recent games. After posting just one double-double in her first 98 career appearances, Shewan has gone off for back-to-back double-doubles in wins over Marist (10 points, career high 14 rebounds) and Canisius (16 points, 12 rebounds) to finish the regular season. Out of Shewan's 26 rebounds (13 RPG) in that span, 15 came on the offensive end as she comes into postseason play averaging 7.5 offensive rebounds in the last two games.
MARTUCCI MAKING HER MARK
Adily Martucci posted another strong performance with 11 points while adding three rebounds and two steals in a road win over Marist (2/23). Martucci has been a key player in the recent six-game win streak as she is averaging 12.4 PPG while reaching the 10-point plateau six times in the stretch. Martucci's team-leading 16th double-digit outing of the season continues a season-long trend that has the guard producing career highs in scoring (10.1 PPG), free throw percentage (88.9) and steals (1.7).
FABBRI FINDING HER WAY
Coming off a breakout 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 6.0 PPG on a much-improved 39.7 percent (25-63 3FG) shooting from long range in the last 20 games. With just four three-point makes through the opening 10 games, Fabbri has since made 25 over the last 20 games alone.
ALL-AROUND ARYN
Aryn McClure's all-around play has been one of the keys behind the Bobcats' success as she comes in with averages of 8.3 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 2.8 APG, 1.7 BPG and 1.6 SPG. The 2015-16 MAAC Rookie of the Year is having another solid season in multiple statistical categories as she leads the Bobcats in rebounds (183), assists (84) and blocks (50). Of all the players in the MAAC, McClure is the only one leading her respective team in all three aforementioned categories.
FINDING HER IRISH GROOVE
Edel Thornton has picked up the pace and carved out a larger role as the sophomore point guard is averaging 4.9 PPG while shooting a team-leading 50 percent (16-32 FG) from the floor and 40.9 percent (9-22 3FG) from behind the arc. Leading the team in both shooting categories, Thornton has also dished out 26 assists against just 15 turnovers (1.73 assist/turnover ratio) in those 10 contests as she ranks second behind McClure in assists over the stretch.
McCLURE'S MOMENT
A key lynchpin in two dominating wins over Marist (79-57) and Siena (76-60), Aryn McClure picked up her second MAAC Player of the Week honor of the season last Monday. The sophomore dominated early and often, notching consecutive season high point totals as she scored 16 against Marist and went for 21 in the win over Siena. Averaging 18.5 points over the 2-0 week, McClure was efficient from the floor going 16-for-33 (48.5 percent) overall while hitting on the first three-pointer of her career (missed first 22 career attempts). Her primetime performance came in the win over Siena as she tallied 13 of her 21 points in the fourth quarter as she scored 13 of the Bobcats' 16 points in a span of 6:33 in the final quarter.
BIG NIGHT FOR SHEWAN
Sarah Shewan had herself a night against No. 25/15 Oregon State as she came up with 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. 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 averaged a team-leading 13.3 points per game while shooting 43.8 percent (14-32 FG) in the three games the Bobcats 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 nine double digit point performances.
SHE GOT GAME
Jen Fay continues to dominate on the offensive end for the Bobcats as she tallied 14 points (5-7 FG, 4-6 3FG) in a 79-57 win over Marist. After scoring 10+ points just once in her freshman season, Fay has notched a team-leading 15 double digit outings for the Bobcats. In those 15 games, Fay is averaging 13.8 PPG while shooting a blistering 51.7 percent (75-145 FG) overall, 39.1 percent (25-64 3FG) from behind the arc and 84.2 percent (32-38 FT) from the charity stripe.
FRESHMAN FITS RIGHT IN
Given a chance at more playing time thanks to injuries in the normal Gold Rush rotation, freshman Vanessa Udoji has responded with solid outings in the 10 games in which she plays at least 10 minutes. Starting with a season high 16 points (4-7 FG, 2-5 3FG, 6-6 FT) and seven rebounds at Saint Peter's (12/1), Udoji followed that up with 13 points (6-9 FG) and five steals against Siena (12/6). A recent outing saw her finish with a solid all-around line of 12 points and four rebounds against Rider. In the 10 games where Udoji has played at least 10 minutes the rookie is averaging 7.0 PPG (41.3 FG%, 90.0 FT%), 3.0 RPG and 1.2 SPG in 16.4 MPG.
TURNING THE PAIGE
Another rookie deserving of praise for making the most of her opportunity is Paige Warfel as the freshman forward has excelled in her two games with more than 10 minutes played this season. With injuries in the consistent Gold Rush rotation, Warfel was given the chance to play major minutes in two games and she responded with 11 points (3-7 FG, 5-7 FT), seven rebounds and three steals in 19 minutes at Saint Peter's (12/1). She came back and tallied nine points (9-10 FT) with three rebounds and two steals in 20 minutes against the Peacocks at home (1/2). In those two games of significant minutes (15+), Warfel averaged 10.0 PPG (37.5 FG%, 91.7 FT%), 5.0 RPG (all offensive) and 2.5 SPG in 19.5 MPG. For the season, Warfel has grabbed 23 total rebounds, 17 of which (73.9 percent) have come on the offensive end.
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 career 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).
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.
Players Mentioned
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard/Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
Guard/Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's BasketballCoaches Road Show at Bears BBQ
Thursday, September 04
Quinnipiac Athletics 2024-25 Highlight Video
Tuesday, May 20
2024 Women's Basketball Kids Day: Recap
Friday, December 20
The Roar - Episode 6: Jackie Grisdale and Grace LaBarge
Wednesday, December 18
