Saturday, January 6
New Rochelle, NY / Hynes Athletic Center
1:00 PM
Quinnipiac University
at
Iona
QU Women's Basketball Heads to Iona Saturday for MAAC Semifinals Rematch
1/5/2018 1:58:00 PM | Women's Basketball
Saturday, Jan. 06, 2018 | 1 PM (ET) | Hynes Athletic Center New Rochelle, New York | ESPN3
QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY BOBCATS (9-5) (3-0 MAAC) vs. Iona College Gaels (0-14, 0-3 MAAC)
Watch It Live: ESPN3
Follow Live Stats: ICGaels.com
Listen Live: AM 1220 WQUN
Updates: @QU_WBB
Game Notes: Quinnipiac | Iona
All-Time Series vs. Iona: QU leads 7-5
Current Streak: Quinnipiac – Two straight
Last Meeting: Quinnipiac 64-59 in the 2017 MAAC Semifinals
NEW ROCHELLE, New York - After defeating the Niagara Purple Eagles 77-61 on Thursday, the 2016-17 MAAC Champion Quinnipiac women's basketball team will look to move to 4-0 in conference play when it travels to take on the Iona Gaels on Saturday at the Hynes Athletic Center at 1 p.m.
LAST GAME (QUINNIPIAC 77, Niagara 61)
Quinnipiac earned its fourth-straight win after it defeated MAAC foe Niagara on Thursday, Jan. 5 to move to 3-0 in conference play. Five players scored in double-figures with Paula Strautmane leading the way with a season-high 20 points. Aryn McClure and Jen Fay both finished with a double-double in the win. McClure finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Fay finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and a career-high five steals. Taylor Herd scored a career-high 16 points in the victory.
The Bobcats opened the game with a 7-0 run in the first 1:56 of play to force an early Niagara timeout. After falling behind 19-18 in the second quarter, Quinnipiac went on a 14-4 run over 2:59 to take a 32-23 lead with 4:58 before the half. Strautmane and Carly Fabbri scored 12 of the Bobcats' 14 points during the run. Despite Quinnipiac's run, the Purple Eagles fought back and closed the half with a 15-5 run of their own to take a 38-37 lead over the Bobcats into halftime. The Bobcats opened the third quarter with a 10-2 run in the first three minutes of the period to take a 49-40 lead over Niagara. After Niagara came back and tied the game at 49-49, Quinnipiac closed the final 3:13 of the third quarter with an 11-3 run, capped with a McClure three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Bobcats a 60-52 heading into the fourth quarter.
SCOUTING IONA
The Gaels own a 0-14 record and are 0-3 to open MAAC. Toyosi Abiola and Alexis Lewis have been the top weapons for the Gaels, as the duo ranks ninth and 10th in the MAAC in individual scoring respectively.
THE SERIES
Quinnipiac is 7-5 all-time against Iona. Last time the Bobcats took on the Gaels, Quinnipiac earned a 64-59 win in the 2017 MAAC Semifinals. Adily Martucci, Aryn McClure, Carly Fabbri and Jen Fay all scored in double figures in the victory.
FAY NAMED MAAC PLAYER OF WEEK
Red-shirt junior forward Jen Fay was named the MAAC Women's Basketball Player of the Week, the league office announced on Tuesday, January 2, 2018. The award comes after Fay averaged 21.5 points in Quinnipiac's first two wins in MAAC play, as the Bobcats obtained wins over Siena and Manhattan. Fay shot 64% from the field in the Bobcats' two victories. Fay had 11 points in the Bobcats' 68-54 victory over Siena and was 75% from beyond the three-point line. Fay followed up her strong game against Siena with a show-stopping performance against Manhattan. Fay dropped a career-high 32 points and dished four assists as the Bobcats defeated the Manhattan Jaspers, 80-64. Fay was also strong on the defensive end of the court, where she had a career-high four blocks and grabbed 10 rebounds. Fay struck for 18 of her 32 points in the opening half against Manhattan and 10 of the Bobcats' first 17 points. Fay was the first Bobcats to score at least 30 points in a game since Courtney Kaminski scored 32 against Central Connecticut State University on Jan. 15, 2010.
EVERYBODY EATS
The Bobcats play a very unselfish brand of basketball, as Quinnipiac leads the MAAC with 16.4 assists per game as a team. The Bobcats spread the ball around evenly as four different players have lead the team in scoring at least three times and three different players rank in the top-15 in the MAAC in assists-per-game.
ACTIVE HANDS
The Bobcats are one of the top defensive units in the league as they rank first in the league in blocks per game (4.2) and second in steals per game (9.1). Carly Fabbri, Aryn McClure, Jen Fay and Paula Strautmane all rank in the top 15 in the MAAC in steals per game.
BIG MOVERS IN THE MAAC
Since joining the MAAC in 2013-14, Quinnipiac has reeled off a record of 81-14 (.852) in all games against MAAC opponents and 71-12 (.855) 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 63-28 (.692) in games against conference foes over the last four seasons and stand 58-25 (.699) in regular season MAAC play.
LEADING THE HERD
After spending much of her rookie season on the bench, sophomore Taylor Herd has seen her role increase substantivally this season,first breaking through with a career high 10 points (3-7 FG, 2-4 3FG) in 13 minutes at nationally-ranked Ohio State (11/17). After scoring nine points in 13 games last season, Herd eclipsed her entire career scoring output in one game as she went for 10 points, including eight in the first half. She made her first career start on Dec. 3 at Hampton, filling in for injured Vanessa Udoji, and has remained in the starting lineup ever since. She matched her career high with 10 points in her second career start in a Dec. 6 win over Providence. Herd set a new career-high in points after she dropped 16 points (4-9 3FG) in a win over Niagara (1/4).
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 69-8 (.896) in games played at home. In just the last three-plus seasons (since 2014-15), Quinnipiac owns a mark of 44-4 (.916). That mark ranks as the 12th-best home win percentage in the nation over that span. Quinnipiac currently has a 20-game home conference winning streak, dating back to a loss to Manhattan in its home MAAC opener in 2015-16.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE GALORE
In Quinnipiac's 77-61 win over Niagara, Aryn McClure and Jen Fay both finished with a double-double each. McClure finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Fay finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and a career-high five steals. This is the first time Quinnipiac has had two players finish with a double-double since Sarah Shewan and Fay each recorded one against Marist on Feb. 23, 2017. Fay has recorded three double-doubles this season and McClure has one.
LETTING IT FLY
In Quinnipiac's win over Niagara, it knocked down 13 three-pointers. In the Bobcats' three MAAC wins, they have made at least 10 or more three-pointers. Quinnipiac averages 8.4 made three-pointers per game which ranks first in the conference.
THE BIG THREE
Quinnipiac has three players that average double-digit points this season. Fay leads the team in scoring with 11.5 points per game, which is 15th in the conference. McClure follows, averaging 10.9 points per game, which ranks 18th in the conference. Strautmane rounds out the trio with 10 points per game, which ranks 23rd in the MAAC.
FABBRI NAMED NH REGISTER SPORTS PERSON OF THE YEAR
Quinnipiac women's basketball head coach, Tricia Fabbri was selected as the New Haven Register's Sports Person of the Year. Fabbri, the all-time winningest coach in Quinnipiac women's basketball history, takes home the achievement after leading Quinnipiac on its historic run to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2017. in the NCAA Tournament, the Bobcats, the No. 12 seed, defeated No. 5 Marquette and No. 4 Miami on their way to their first-ever Sweet 16.
BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK
Quinnipiac entered the 2017-18 season as three-time defending MAAC regular season champions, earning the top record in conference play at 17-3 last year. Owning a 55-6 (.900) regular season mark against MAAC competition since the 2014-15 season where the Bobcats went 20-0 in MAAC play, Quinnipiac has 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 three straight regular season titles entering 2017-18.
2016-17 SEASON REVIEW NOTES
2017 NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTABLES
- Quinnipiac became the fourth No. 12 seed in NCAA Div. I women's basketball history to advance to the Sweet 16, joining BYU in 2014, Kansas in 2013 and San Francisco in 1996
- In addition, Quinnipiac became the fourth team in history to defeat a No. 4 and No. 5 seed to advance to the Sweet 16
- The Bobcats hit 15 three-pointers, finishing just one shy of matching a single-game program record, in an 85-78 upset at then-No. 16 ranked Miami in the NCAA Second Round
- Quinnipiac's 15 triples stands as the third-most in NCAA Second Round history
- Quinnipiac defeated the No. 16 nationally-ranked Miami Hurricanes, marking the first time Quinnipiac has defeated an ACC program and the second straight NCAA Tournament win over a ranked opponent after coming in with an all-time mark of 0-9 against ranked foes
- Quinnipiac advanced into the Sweet 16 as the lowest-seeded team remaining in the field at the time, while standing as one of just two double digit seeds (No. 10 Oregon) who advanced past the NCAA Second Round
- The Bobcats also carried the flag as the lone mid-major program to advance two rounds in the 2017 NCAA Tournament as well as the lowest-seed in both the men's and women's brackets to make the Sweet 16 round
- The Bobcats became the first female sports program at Quinnipiac to win an NCAA Tournament game
- Quinnipiac University now has three athletic programs win at least one game in the NCAA Tournament (women's basketball, men's ice hockey and men's lacrosse)
- Quinnipiac became the 23rd team in the history of the NCAA Tournament to win as a No. 12 seed in a No. 5 vs. No. 12 NCAA First Round matchup
- Quinnipiac defeated a Marquette squad that earned the No. 25 ranking in the most-recent USA Today Coaches' Poll, marking the first time in program history the Bobcats have defeated a nationally-ranked opponent
- The win marked the first time a Quinnipiac basketball program (women's or men's) has won a game over a nationally-ranked foe
2016-17 SEASON-IN-REVIEW
- At season's end, Quinnipiac achieved two more program-firsts as Quinnipiac earned the No. 23 ranking in the USA Today Coaches' Poll to earn a national-ranking for the first time in program history
- In addition, Quinnipiac was voted the top mid-major program in the nation in the College Insider Mid-Major Poll, marking the first time the program has earned the No. 1 ranking in the mid-major ranking poll
- The Bobcats finished 29-7 overall and 17-3 in league play to complete their sixth straight 20-win season while advancing to a fifth straight appearance in the conference championship game, sixth straight trip to a national postseason tournament and earning a third straight MAAC Regular Season title
- Quinnipiac clinched its third straight MAAC Regular Season title, winning seven straight games down the stretch of regular season play to edge out Rider (16-4 MAAC) for the top spot in the standings
- The regular season title is the Bobcats' fourth in the last five years dating back to the 2012-13 campaign where Quinnipiac was crowned the NEC Regular Season Champion
- The Bobcats joined 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
- Early last season, Quinnipiac clinched their sixth straight 20-win season, an accomplishment only 26 teams in the nation can boast heading into 2017-18
LEADER OF THE PACK
Head coach Tricia Fabbri enters her 23rd season leading the Bobcats in 2017-18, as the four-time Coach of the Year (twice in four MAAC seasons) and all-time winningest coach in program history came into the new campaign with 379 career victories. Engineering a program that ranks 10th in the nation in total wins (134) over the last four seasons, Fabbri's Bobcats have reached the 20-win plateau in six straight seasons, won three conference titles in the last five seasons and earned three consecutive MAAC Regular Season titles.
ANOTHER NATIONAL POSTSEASON APPEARANCE
Quinnipiac's third trip to the NCAA Tournament last year marked the sixth straight national postseason appearance for the Bobcats and the seventh in program history. The Bobcats earned its first national postseason appearance with a trip to Iona in the 2008 WNIT Tournament and then made a second WNIT Tournament appearance in 2012 against Temple. The first NCAA Tournament berth came in 2013 as the Bobcats earned a No. 13 seed to play at No. 4 Maryland. Quinnipiac also took home the 2015 MAAC Championship, claiming a No. 12 seed and facing No. 5 Oklahoma. In the 2014 and 2016 postseason, the Bobcats advanced to the WNIT, defeating Maine, 90-44, in 2016 for the program's first-ever postseason win.
FIRST NATIONALLY RANKED WINS COME AT RIGHT TIME
The Bobcats are 2-12 all-time against nationally-ranked competition and own an all-time mark of 9-36 against teams in high-major conferences (ACC, BIG EAST, Big 12, B1G, Pac-12 and SEC). After going 0-for-9 in their first nine games against ranked foes, Quinnipiac won two straight games against nationally-ranked opponents in the 2017 NCAA Tournament before bowing out to the eventual NCAA Champions South Carolina (this year's non-conference schedule has included losses to nationally ranked Missouri and Ohio State). Quinnipiac had its first ranked win in an NCAA First Round victory over a Marquette squad that came in ranked No. 25 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll and followed that up with a road triumph over No. 16 Miami. The Bobcats' six other wins over high-major foes have come against Alabama, Minnesota, St. John's (NY), Syracuse and Providence (three times, including this season on Dec. 6).
ALL-TEAM-FIRST MENTALITY
Quinnipiac has long preached the mantra of team-first and last season certainly is no different. Upon the announcement of the All-MAAC Teams, Quinnipiac found themselves with three All-League players – Adily Martucci (Second Team All-MAAC), Aryn McClure (Third Team) and Jen Fay (Third Team) – but none on the All-MAAC First Team. This marked the second time in the last three seasons (all of which have ended with Quinnipiac standing as the regular season champion in the MAAC) without representation on the All-MAAC First Team. Armed with a 54-6 record in the league over the last three seasons, Quinnipiac has just one All-MAAC First Team selection in that span (Samantha Guastella 2015 – Bobcats went 20-0 in the MAAC that season). In the 2016-17 season, the Bobcats stand as the only team in the nation to have won their conference's regular season title outright and not have a First Team All-Conference player (32 conferences in the country).
HITTING THAT MAGIC NUMBER
Quinnipiac's 76-60 win over Siena last season clinched yet another 20-win campaign for Head Coach Tricia Fabbri in 2016-17. 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. Quinnipiac is one of just 26 teams across the nation and one of 11 mid-major programs to record six straight 20+ win seasons. Over those last six complete seasons, Quinnipiac has compiled a record of 158-46 for a .775 win percentage which ranks as the 13th-best overall mark in the nation.
DEE-FENSE
Quinnipiac's defense led the MAAC all last season as the Bobcats allowed 58.6 points per game (56th-best mark in the nation). Quinnipiac allowed fewer than 60 points per game for just the third time in the program's Div. I history (2015-16 – 58.7, 2012-13 – 57.4, 2007-08 – 58.7). In MAAC regular season games, Quinnipiac allowed a miniscule 53.3 PPG while opponents shot just 35.3 percent from the floor in conference play, both standards that led the MAAC. For the season, Quinnipiac allowed opponents to shoot 36.9 percent (39th-best in the nation) while also ranking 21st in the nation in steals per game (10.8). Allowing 0.777 points per possession (best in the MAAC), Quinnipiac held opponents to fewer than 70 points in 29-of-36 games last season including 20 of the last 23 contests. The Bobcats had a run of 19 straight games holding teams to fewer than 70 points snapped in the MAAC Championship game win over Rider.
MAAC WIN STREAK
Quinnipiac saw its streak of 25 consecutive MAAC conference victories end in a 61-58 loss at Monmouth last season. 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.
TOP SPOT IN THE MAAC
Quinnipiac finished last season with the lead in eight different statistical categories, while the Bobcats ranked no worse than third out of 11 MAAC teams in 17 out of 21 major team statistics. Quinnipiac led the MAAC in scoring offense (68.4), scoring margin (+9.7), field goal percentage defense (36.9), blocked shots (4.9), assists (16.2), steals (10.8), turnover margin (+5.00) and assist/turnover ratio (1.11).
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 37-4 (.902) at home in league games since joining the conference in 2013-14. That prominence is only magnified when looking a since 2014-15, as the Bobcats are 31-1 (.969) at the TD Bank Sports Center in conference games, with the only loss coming two years ago to Manhattan. After defeating Niagara at home to move to 3-0 in conference play, the Bobcats are currently riding a 21-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 went 22-2 in the 2016-17 season to give Quinnipiac a mark of 67-2 since the start of 2014-15 in games in which Quinnipiac leads at the half, while this year's 6-0 record with halftime leads has improved that mark to 73-2 (.973).
THAT 70s SCORING SHOW
Since the 2007-08 season, Quinnipiac is 138-15 (.902) in games wherein the Bobcats score 70 or more points, including 62-2 (.969) combined since 2014-15. During 2016-17 (16-0), 2012-13 (18-0) and 2010-11 (8-0), the Bobcats compiled undefeated records in each respective season when reaching the 70-point scoring plateau. So far this year, Quinnipiac has won all five games when scoring 70 or more, improving its win streak in those contests to 30 in a row (the last defeat was a 71-70 loss in overtime to Florida Gulf Coast in 2015-16 - the last regulation loss was to Oklahoma in the 2015 NCAA Tournament).
Quinnipiac's Record in Games Scoring 70+ Points Since 07-08
Season Record
2017-18 5-0
2016-17 16-0
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) 138-15 (.902)
BOY CAN THE BOBCATS PROTECT THE BALL
In its last win over Niagara, Quinnipiac dished out 24 assists while committing only 11 turnovers. The Bobcats are currently in first place in the MAAC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3). That's nothing new, though, as the team's philosophy is predicated on smart passes and protecting the ball on offense. Quinnipiac has ranked in the top two in the MAAC in assist/turnover ratio in each of the last five seasons while ranking Top 50 in the nation four times. The prolonged trend continued in 2016-17, as the Bobcats led the MAAC and ranked 46th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (1.11).. Senior point guard Carly Fabbri also currently leads the league individually with an impressive 2.8 ratio (55 assists, and only 20 turnovers through 14 games).
Assist/Turnover Ratio Last Six Seasons
Season Games APG TPG A/TO NCAA CONF
2012-13 33 16.9 14.5 1.17 10th 1st (NEC)
2013-14 34 16.3 13.1 1.24 20th 2nd (MAAC)
2014-15 35 19.6 13.3 1.47 5th 1st (MAAC)
2015-16 34 15.4 14.9 1.03 51st 2nd (MAAC)
2016-17 36 16.2 14.7 1.11 46th 1st (MAAC)
2017-18 14 16.4 12.6 1.30 -- 1st (MAAC)
Total 186 16.8 13.85 1.22 -- --
NEXT UP
Quinnipiac will resume MAAC play when it hosts MAAC-rival Marist on Thursday, January 11th at 10 a.m. at the TD Bank Sports Center.
QUINNIPIAC UNIVERSITY BOBCATS (9-5) (3-0 MAAC) vs. Iona College Gaels (0-14, 0-3 MAAC)
Watch It Live: ESPN3
Follow Live Stats: ICGaels.com
Listen Live: AM 1220 WQUN
Updates: @QU_WBB
Game Notes: Quinnipiac | Iona
All-Time Series vs. Iona: QU leads 7-5
Current Streak: Quinnipiac – Two straight
Last Meeting: Quinnipiac 64-59 in the 2017 MAAC Semifinals
NEW ROCHELLE, New York - After defeating the Niagara Purple Eagles 77-61 on Thursday, the 2016-17 MAAC Champion Quinnipiac women's basketball team will look to move to 4-0 in conference play when it travels to take on the Iona Gaels on Saturday at the Hynes Athletic Center at 1 p.m.
LAST GAME (QUINNIPIAC 77, Niagara 61)
Quinnipiac earned its fourth-straight win after it defeated MAAC foe Niagara on Thursday, Jan. 5 to move to 3-0 in conference play. Five players scored in double-figures with Paula Strautmane leading the way with a season-high 20 points. Aryn McClure and Jen Fay both finished with a double-double in the win. McClure finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Fay finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and a career-high five steals. Taylor Herd scored a career-high 16 points in the victory.
The Bobcats opened the game with a 7-0 run in the first 1:56 of play to force an early Niagara timeout. After falling behind 19-18 in the second quarter, Quinnipiac went on a 14-4 run over 2:59 to take a 32-23 lead with 4:58 before the half. Strautmane and Carly Fabbri scored 12 of the Bobcats' 14 points during the run. Despite Quinnipiac's run, the Purple Eagles fought back and closed the half with a 15-5 run of their own to take a 38-37 lead over the Bobcats into halftime. The Bobcats opened the third quarter with a 10-2 run in the first three minutes of the period to take a 49-40 lead over Niagara. After Niagara came back and tied the game at 49-49, Quinnipiac closed the final 3:13 of the third quarter with an 11-3 run, capped with a McClure three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Bobcats a 60-52 heading into the fourth quarter.
SCOUTING IONA
The Gaels own a 0-14 record and are 0-3 to open MAAC. Toyosi Abiola and Alexis Lewis have been the top weapons for the Gaels, as the duo ranks ninth and 10th in the MAAC in individual scoring respectively.
THE SERIES
Quinnipiac is 7-5 all-time against Iona. Last time the Bobcats took on the Gaels, Quinnipiac earned a 64-59 win in the 2017 MAAC Semifinals. Adily Martucci, Aryn McClure, Carly Fabbri and Jen Fay all scored in double figures in the victory.
FAY NAMED MAAC PLAYER OF WEEK
Red-shirt junior forward Jen Fay was named the MAAC Women's Basketball Player of the Week, the league office announced on Tuesday, January 2, 2018. The award comes after Fay averaged 21.5 points in Quinnipiac's first two wins in MAAC play, as the Bobcats obtained wins over Siena and Manhattan. Fay shot 64% from the field in the Bobcats' two victories. Fay had 11 points in the Bobcats' 68-54 victory over Siena and was 75% from beyond the three-point line. Fay followed up her strong game against Siena with a show-stopping performance against Manhattan. Fay dropped a career-high 32 points and dished four assists as the Bobcats defeated the Manhattan Jaspers, 80-64. Fay was also strong on the defensive end of the court, where she had a career-high four blocks and grabbed 10 rebounds. Fay struck for 18 of her 32 points in the opening half against Manhattan and 10 of the Bobcats' first 17 points. Fay was the first Bobcats to score at least 30 points in a game since Courtney Kaminski scored 32 against Central Connecticut State University on Jan. 15, 2010.
EVERYBODY EATS
The Bobcats play a very unselfish brand of basketball, as Quinnipiac leads the MAAC with 16.4 assists per game as a team. The Bobcats spread the ball around evenly as four different players have lead the team in scoring at least three times and three different players rank in the top-15 in the MAAC in assists-per-game.
ACTIVE HANDS
The Bobcats are one of the top defensive units in the league as they rank first in the league in blocks per game (4.2) and second in steals per game (9.1). Carly Fabbri, Aryn McClure, Jen Fay and Paula Strautmane all rank in the top 15 in the MAAC in steals per game.
BIG MOVERS IN THE MAAC
Since joining the MAAC in 2013-14, Quinnipiac has reeled off a record of 81-14 (.852) in all games against MAAC opponents and 71-12 (.855) 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 63-28 (.692) in games against conference foes over the last four seasons and stand 58-25 (.699) in regular season MAAC play.
LEADING THE HERD
After spending much of her rookie season on the bench, sophomore Taylor Herd has seen her role increase substantivally this season,first breaking through with a career high 10 points (3-7 FG, 2-4 3FG) in 13 minutes at nationally-ranked Ohio State (11/17). After scoring nine points in 13 games last season, Herd eclipsed her entire career scoring output in one game as she went for 10 points, including eight in the first half. She made her first career start on Dec. 3 at Hampton, filling in for injured Vanessa Udoji, and has remained in the starting lineup ever since. She matched her career high with 10 points in her second career start in a Dec. 6 win over Providence. Herd set a new career-high in points after she dropped 16 points (4-9 3FG) in a win over Niagara (1/4).
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 69-8 (.896) in games played at home. In just the last three-plus seasons (since 2014-15), Quinnipiac owns a mark of 44-4 (.916). That mark ranks as the 12th-best home win percentage in the nation over that span. Quinnipiac currently has a 20-game home conference winning streak, dating back to a loss to Manhattan in its home MAAC opener in 2015-16.
DOUBLE-DOUBLE GALORE
In Quinnipiac's 77-61 win over Niagara, Aryn McClure and Jen Fay both finished with a double-double each. McClure finished with 16 points and 12 rebounds, while Fay finished with 13 points, 10 rebounds, six assists and a career-high five steals. This is the first time Quinnipiac has had two players finish with a double-double since Sarah Shewan and Fay each recorded one against Marist on Feb. 23, 2017. Fay has recorded three double-doubles this season and McClure has one.
LETTING IT FLY
In Quinnipiac's win over Niagara, it knocked down 13 three-pointers. In the Bobcats' three MAAC wins, they have made at least 10 or more three-pointers. Quinnipiac averages 8.4 made three-pointers per game which ranks first in the conference.
THE BIG THREE
Quinnipiac has three players that average double-digit points this season. Fay leads the team in scoring with 11.5 points per game, which is 15th in the conference. McClure follows, averaging 10.9 points per game, which ranks 18th in the conference. Strautmane rounds out the trio with 10 points per game, which ranks 23rd in the MAAC.
FABBRI NAMED NH REGISTER SPORTS PERSON OF THE YEAR
Quinnipiac women's basketball head coach, Tricia Fabbri was selected as the New Haven Register's Sports Person of the Year. Fabbri, the all-time winningest coach in Quinnipiac women's basketball history, takes home the achievement after leading Quinnipiac on its historic run to the NCAA Sweet 16 in 2017. in the NCAA Tournament, the Bobcats, the No. 12 seed, defeated No. 5 Marquette and No. 4 Miami on their way to their first-ever Sweet 16.
BACK-TO-BACK-TO-BACK
Quinnipiac entered the 2017-18 season as three-time defending MAAC regular season champions, earning the top record in conference play at 17-3 last year. Owning a 55-6 (.900) regular season mark against MAAC competition since the 2014-15 season where the Bobcats went 20-0 in MAAC play, Quinnipiac has 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 three straight regular season titles entering 2017-18.
2016-17 SEASON REVIEW NOTES
2017 NCAA TOURNAMENT NOTABLES
- Quinnipiac became the fourth No. 12 seed in NCAA Div. I women's basketball history to advance to the Sweet 16, joining BYU in 2014, Kansas in 2013 and San Francisco in 1996
- In addition, Quinnipiac became the fourth team in history to defeat a No. 4 and No. 5 seed to advance to the Sweet 16
- The Bobcats hit 15 three-pointers, finishing just one shy of matching a single-game program record, in an 85-78 upset at then-No. 16 ranked Miami in the NCAA Second Round
- Quinnipiac's 15 triples stands as the third-most in NCAA Second Round history
- Quinnipiac defeated the No. 16 nationally-ranked Miami Hurricanes, marking the first time Quinnipiac has defeated an ACC program and the second straight NCAA Tournament win over a ranked opponent after coming in with an all-time mark of 0-9 against ranked foes
- Quinnipiac advanced into the Sweet 16 as the lowest-seeded team remaining in the field at the time, while standing as one of just two double digit seeds (No. 10 Oregon) who advanced past the NCAA Second Round
- The Bobcats also carried the flag as the lone mid-major program to advance two rounds in the 2017 NCAA Tournament as well as the lowest-seed in both the men's and women's brackets to make the Sweet 16 round
- The Bobcats became the first female sports program at Quinnipiac to win an NCAA Tournament game
- Quinnipiac University now has three athletic programs win at least one game in the NCAA Tournament (women's basketball, men's ice hockey and men's lacrosse)
- Quinnipiac became the 23rd team in the history of the NCAA Tournament to win as a No. 12 seed in a No. 5 vs. No. 12 NCAA First Round matchup
- Quinnipiac defeated a Marquette squad that earned the No. 25 ranking in the most-recent USA Today Coaches' Poll, marking the first time in program history the Bobcats have defeated a nationally-ranked opponent
- The win marked the first time a Quinnipiac basketball program (women's or men's) has won a game over a nationally-ranked foe
2016-17 SEASON-IN-REVIEW
- At season's end, Quinnipiac achieved two more program-firsts as Quinnipiac earned the No. 23 ranking in the USA Today Coaches' Poll to earn a national-ranking for the first time in program history
- In addition, Quinnipiac was voted the top mid-major program in the nation in the College Insider Mid-Major Poll, marking the first time the program has earned the No. 1 ranking in the mid-major ranking poll
- The Bobcats finished 29-7 overall and 17-3 in league play to complete their sixth straight 20-win season while advancing to a fifth straight appearance in the conference championship game, sixth straight trip to a national postseason tournament and earning a third straight MAAC Regular Season title
- Quinnipiac clinched its third straight MAAC Regular Season title, winning seven straight games down the stretch of regular season play to edge out Rider (16-4 MAAC) for the top spot in the standings
- The regular season title is the Bobcats' fourth in the last five years dating back to the 2012-13 campaign where Quinnipiac was crowned the NEC Regular Season Champion
- The Bobcats joined 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
- Early last season, Quinnipiac clinched their sixth straight 20-win season, an accomplishment only 26 teams in the nation can boast heading into 2017-18
LEADER OF THE PACK
Head coach Tricia Fabbri enters her 23rd season leading the Bobcats in 2017-18, as the four-time Coach of the Year (twice in four MAAC seasons) and all-time winningest coach in program history came into the new campaign with 379 career victories. Engineering a program that ranks 10th in the nation in total wins (134) over the last four seasons, Fabbri's Bobcats have reached the 20-win plateau in six straight seasons, won three conference titles in the last five seasons and earned three consecutive MAAC Regular Season titles.
ANOTHER NATIONAL POSTSEASON APPEARANCE
Quinnipiac's third trip to the NCAA Tournament last year marked the sixth straight national postseason appearance for the Bobcats and the seventh in program history. The Bobcats earned its first national postseason appearance with a trip to Iona in the 2008 WNIT Tournament and then made a second WNIT Tournament appearance in 2012 against Temple. The first NCAA Tournament berth came in 2013 as the Bobcats earned a No. 13 seed to play at No. 4 Maryland. Quinnipiac also took home the 2015 MAAC Championship, claiming a No. 12 seed and facing No. 5 Oklahoma. In the 2014 and 2016 postseason, the Bobcats advanced to the WNIT, defeating Maine, 90-44, in 2016 for the program's first-ever postseason win.
FIRST NATIONALLY RANKED WINS COME AT RIGHT TIME
The Bobcats are 2-12 all-time against nationally-ranked competition and own an all-time mark of 9-36 against teams in high-major conferences (ACC, BIG EAST, Big 12, B1G, Pac-12 and SEC). After going 0-for-9 in their first nine games against ranked foes, Quinnipiac won two straight games against nationally-ranked opponents in the 2017 NCAA Tournament before bowing out to the eventual NCAA Champions South Carolina (this year's non-conference schedule has included losses to nationally ranked Missouri and Ohio State). Quinnipiac had its first ranked win in an NCAA First Round victory over a Marquette squad that came in ranked No. 25 in the USA Today Coaches' Poll and followed that up with a road triumph over No. 16 Miami. The Bobcats' six other wins over high-major foes have come against Alabama, Minnesota, St. John's (NY), Syracuse and Providence (three times, including this season on Dec. 6).
ALL-TEAM-FIRST MENTALITY
Quinnipiac has long preached the mantra of team-first and last season certainly is no different. Upon the announcement of the All-MAAC Teams, Quinnipiac found themselves with three All-League players – Adily Martucci (Second Team All-MAAC), Aryn McClure (Third Team) and Jen Fay (Third Team) – but none on the All-MAAC First Team. This marked the second time in the last three seasons (all of which have ended with Quinnipiac standing as the regular season champion in the MAAC) without representation on the All-MAAC First Team. Armed with a 54-6 record in the league over the last three seasons, Quinnipiac has just one All-MAAC First Team selection in that span (Samantha Guastella 2015 – Bobcats went 20-0 in the MAAC that season). In the 2016-17 season, the Bobcats stand as the only team in the nation to have won their conference's regular season title outright and not have a First Team All-Conference player (32 conferences in the country).
HITTING THAT MAGIC NUMBER
Quinnipiac's 76-60 win over Siena last season clinched yet another 20-win campaign for Head Coach Tricia Fabbri in 2016-17. 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. Quinnipiac is one of just 26 teams across the nation and one of 11 mid-major programs to record six straight 20+ win seasons. Over those last six complete seasons, Quinnipiac has compiled a record of 158-46 for a .775 win percentage which ranks as the 13th-best overall mark in the nation.
DEE-FENSE
Quinnipiac's defense led the MAAC all last season as the Bobcats allowed 58.6 points per game (56th-best mark in the nation). Quinnipiac allowed fewer than 60 points per game for just the third time in the program's Div. I history (2015-16 – 58.7, 2012-13 – 57.4, 2007-08 – 58.7). In MAAC regular season games, Quinnipiac allowed a miniscule 53.3 PPG while opponents shot just 35.3 percent from the floor in conference play, both standards that led the MAAC. For the season, Quinnipiac allowed opponents to shoot 36.9 percent (39th-best in the nation) while also ranking 21st in the nation in steals per game (10.8). Allowing 0.777 points per possession (best in the MAAC), Quinnipiac held opponents to fewer than 70 points in 29-of-36 games last season including 20 of the last 23 contests. The Bobcats had a run of 19 straight games holding teams to fewer than 70 points snapped in the MAAC Championship game win over Rider.
MAAC WIN STREAK
Quinnipiac saw its streak of 25 consecutive MAAC conference victories end in a 61-58 loss at Monmouth last season. 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.
TOP SPOT IN THE MAAC
Quinnipiac finished last season with the lead in eight different statistical categories, while the Bobcats ranked no worse than third out of 11 MAAC teams in 17 out of 21 major team statistics. Quinnipiac led the MAAC in scoring offense (68.4), scoring margin (+9.7), field goal percentage defense (36.9), blocked shots (4.9), assists (16.2), steals (10.8), turnover margin (+5.00) and assist/turnover ratio (1.11).
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 37-4 (.902) at home in league games since joining the conference in 2013-14. That prominence is only magnified when looking a since 2014-15, as the Bobcats are 31-1 (.969) at the TD Bank Sports Center in conference games, with the only loss coming two years ago to Manhattan. After defeating Niagara at home to move to 3-0 in conference play, the Bobcats are currently riding a 21-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 went 22-2 in the 2016-17 season to give Quinnipiac a mark of 67-2 since the start of 2014-15 in games in which Quinnipiac leads at the half, while this year's 6-0 record with halftime leads has improved that mark to 73-2 (.973).
THAT 70s SCORING SHOW
Since the 2007-08 season, Quinnipiac is 138-15 (.902) in games wherein the Bobcats score 70 or more points, including 62-2 (.969) combined since 2014-15. During 2016-17 (16-0), 2012-13 (18-0) and 2010-11 (8-0), the Bobcats compiled undefeated records in each respective season when reaching the 70-point scoring plateau. So far this year, Quinnipiac has won all five games when scoring 70 or more, improving its win streak in those contests to 30 in a row (the last defeat was a 71-70 loss in overtime to Florida Gulf Coast in 2015-16 - the last regulation loss was to Oklahoma in the 2015 NCAA Tournament).
Quinnipiac's Record in Games Scoring 70+ Points Since 07-08
Season Record
2017-18 5-0
2016-17 16-0
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) 138-15 (.902)
BOY CAN THE BOBCATS PROTECT THE BALL
In its last win over Niagara, Quinnipiac dished out 24 assists while committing only 11 turnovers. The Bobcats are currently in first place in the MAAC in assist-to-turnover ratio (1.3). That's nothing new, though, as the team's philosophy is predicated on smart passes and protecting the ball on offense. Quinnipiac has ranked in the top two in the MAAC in assist/turnover ratio in each of the last five seasons while ranking Top 50 in the nation four times. The prolonged trend continued in 2016-17, as the Bobcats led the MAAC and ranked 46th in the nation in assist/turnover ratio (1.11).. Senior point guard Carly Fabbri also currently leads the league individually with an impressive 2.8 ratio (55 assists, and only 20 turnovers through 14 games).
Assist/Turnover Ratio Last Six Seasons
Season Games APG TPG A/TO NCAA CONF
2012-13 33 16.9 14.5 1.17 10th 1st (NEC)
2013-14 34 16.3 13.1 1.24 20th 2nd (MAAC)
2014-15 35 19.6 13.3 1.47 5th 1st (MAAC)
2015-16 34 15.4 14.9 1.03 51st 2nd (MAAC)
2016-17 36 16.2 14.7 1.11 46th 1st (MAAC)
2017-18 14 16.4 12.6 1.30 -- 1st (MAAC)
Total 186 16.8 13.85 1.22 -- --
NEXT UP
Quinnipiac will resume MAAC play when it hosts MAAC-rival Marist on Thursday, January 11th at 10 a.m. at the TD Bank Sports Center.
Players Mentioned
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/ Women's Basketball
Guard
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
Guard/Forward
/ Women's Basketball
Forward
/ Women's Basketball
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/ Women's Basketball
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